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Recently I rummaged through boxes that we moved from South to North Florida 7 1/2 years ago but never opened. I was determined to take less “stuff” when we moved to North Carolina. But what should have taken a few hours took days. Exactly what was so important that I didn’t even miss it for almost 8 years? 

One thing that really captured my attention was a report I did in 6th grade. The assignment was to explore what I wanted to be when I grew up. Guess what? I wrote that I wanted to become an artist. But it was more than just an essay. It included some of my sketches and paintings. See three of them at the top of the page.

Some were like seeing an old friend. I immediately remembered where I was when working on them, and what my Mother’s critique was. She LOVED the coffee pot one — which was not her usual reaction! That’s 12-year-old me memorialized in that old-fashioned stainless steel pot. 

In the report, I interviewed 2 working artists and asked their advice about pursuing an art career. Both emphasized that it took not only talent, but also a lot of practice and perseverance. They said it would take a long  time and some luck to make a decent living with art. And those exact fears kept me from even considering an art career when I was first married and we desperately needed a regular salary. Teachers don’t make much money, but at least it was a paycheck we could count on!

I waxed eloquent about needing a college education to be able to communicate well with potential art customers. You’d think I might have thought a few art courses wouldn’t hurt, but no, that didn’t enter my mind. I still regret that!

I also found some ancient, yellowed Winter Park High School newsletters and other school publications that I helped produce. As editor of our paper, I combined my love of journalism and art. It was fun seeing my sketches and cartoons published along with a gossip column I used to do titled “Through the Keyhole.” Little did I know that all these years later I would again combine writing and art in this blog!

But here’s the bottom line: The next time someone suggests that I’m just a bored old lady taking up art to fill her time, I will drag out those elementary school, junior  high, and high school renderings. At last I have proof that I have been an artist all my life! Well, except for that 40-year pause ... but who’s counting?