One Year!

Today is my one-year anniversary of blogging and painting!

The two go hand-in-hand for me and have changed my life in ways I find hard to put into words. My blogging started last year with this post and my first four encouraging comments that sent me on my way...

But there are not many people who know the story of how I suddenly started making art and today I want to share it with you all. I've been living with Daniel, a brilliant artist, for 25 years and while I sometimes wanted to be more creative, I never thought I wanted to paint.

In March of 2009, I was talking with an art professor at Daniel's school, who asked me if I was also an artist. I replied: "Oh, no, I'm not." The moment the words were out of my mouth, I knew they were not true for me anymore. It was that sudden and it totally surprised me. The very next day, I raided Daniel's art supply closet and started painting my blog banner, which was my very first painting.

At the same time this sudden urge to paint and create was born, I also KNEW that I had to write about it and to do so publicly. I wanted to start a blog to document my creative journey. I was as surprised by this as my friends and family must have been. In fact, I was sure some of them would think I'd lost my mind, which is why I didn't tell most of them about my blog until it was well under way and had a little bit of momentum.

I thought I'd blog to simply record my journey. Here is what I didn't expect:

❧ that my blog would become an integral part of my day

❧ that I'd forge deep and lasting friendships through my blog

❧ that I'd find such an incredible community of mutual support, love, and encouragement

❧ that I am able to write in a way that people like to read

❧ that my dad would become my No. 1 fan (aside from Daniel, of course)

❧ that some people dear to me hardly ever read my blog and others I never thought would be interested, check it every day

❧ that I'd start looking at everything differently, always wondering if it would make a good picture to share with you all or an interesting subject to post about

❧ that you are always on my mind, that I'd care so deeply about your lives, and that I'd happily share in your joys and keenly feel your pain

❧ that I'd be so affected by the death of one of our dear blogging friends

❧ that I'd learn so much and find so much inspiration from all my new friends around the world

❧ that our house would slowly start getting filled with not just our art, but also yours

❧ that I'd inspire others to start their creative journeys or to start blogging

❧ that I'd have so much fun both with my art and blogging and that the two will be forever inextricably linked

To say I am grateful to you would not fully describe how I feel about this year. I am humbled and deeply touched by your friendship, your love and the support you have given me in the over 5,000 comments you have left, the e-mails you have sent, the notes you have mailed and the gifts you have bestowed on me. I feel immense love for all of you!

Since my blogging and my art are so firmly connected, just a little bit about my art this last year. Since I started painting one year ago, I have created 83 pieces of art. Of those 83, all have of have been extremely fun to make, but the following seven paintings changed the way I view myself.

They seemed to paint themselves ...
and my soul in the process.

With each one of them -

I am showing them here from the most recent to the earliest -
I started considering the possibility that I might have a talent.

Now, when someone asks me what I do, I don't hesitate when I tell them that I am an artist.

Thank you for your constant encouragement, support and love. Thank you for accompanying me on my journey! And thank you for allowing me to accompany you on yours!