Ok so perhaps it is the influence of a certain local artist but I seem to have my creative motivation back again. In the old days I used to be making things all the time, from friendship bracelets, to tie dyeing and patchwork during my A levels, to experimenting with mobiles and papier mache mirror frames during my degree...amongst other projects.

Like most things however as age, responsibility and the real world kicked in, it all kind of died. The nearest I got was decorating a room in my house. Which, although considered creative by some just isn't the same as getting stuck into something.

I have never claimed to be good at it. I was of passable talent until the age where I had to decide upon my options at school. You could not do Art, CDT and Graph. Com, so opted for the teacher I liked best and ditched Art. Therefore I started as a reasonably passable 14 year old and remained pretty much at that level.

Having observed for a few months, then taken on technician responsibilities, (the fun of washing brushes, changing water and being Joe Public) I progressed to painting backgrounds...like this one...when we worked with Emily for the day. Now it was time to move on...

My sitting room floor is currently littered with paintbrushes, paints, completed, semi-completed works and canvases yet to be unwrapped. My hands are currently covered in paint, green, brown, red. (I never was the tidiest of people when it comes to paint)

Freddie completes the picture by sleeping curled up on top of my laptop bag which is one of the few clear spaces in the room. Every wannabe artist needs an artists cat!

I addition to this the aforementioned local artist has signed me up to DeviantArt and real, proper artists are commenting on my work so far. I have other work to be added as soon as I have had the reassuring nod that I require.

It is nice to be creating something again and having never ventured into proper painting, it is nice to feel like I am learning something once again. It would be nice to produce things that are passable, but that is a bonus really.

Thanks for the inspiration :)

(Please note that I have no responsibility for the content of DeviantArt, other than my own bit. It might be advisable not to let your kids wander too much :) )