I wish,,,,like many a person, that I would have started art back in these days, when I was young. In a way I did. My first picture was a fingerpaint (1st Grade), a submarine in a purplish sea. It was neat.
In the mid-1960's someone gave me a wonderful gift, a paint by the numbers set. I enjoyed it very much, but when the paints were gone there was no one in this small ranch community to tell me that I could get my own paints and canvas and do art work. This is one of the regretful places in my life, but you can't change the past and crying over it doesn't help.
The year was 1993 and Somalia was calling, whether I wanted to be called or not. But shortly before my deployment orders came I had a burning desire to paint a picture. It was almost an obsession and the picture was one in my mind. There was a big blade of grass with a snail on it. An old can of beans with the lid up was in the tall grass. I borrowed my daughter's watercolor (she has natural ability that make me envious) and did my picture. Then soon after I was off to Mogadishu.
Then came the critical year, 1995, and deployment to France for Bosnia. Again, I got the urge to paint. This time I didn't have pictures in my mind, just an internal desire. So I drove down to Marseille and found an art supply store. I don't speak much French and they prefer not to speak English as a normal rule. So I bought some watercolor supplies and began to play with them. When I returned to the States I had a change of station and wound up at Nellis AFB, Nevada. I found a watercolor teacher and took lessons. When I deployed to Guyana, South America I took my watercolors with me. When I returned I changed instructors and also began to play with acrylics. Deploying to Central America I took my acrylics with me. These two jungle experiences gave me an interesting introduction to plein air painting. When I returned to the States we were moving again, this time to the great Northwest. I had deceided to give oils a try. I went to the Puyallup Fair and found a lady, Althea, whose work I liked and who taught. I began to study with her and then I met Liz, who taught portraiture. Workshops and other opportunities have really helped. I was going to buy a new bike, about $500, but when Frank Covino came to the area, I used my bike money and a week of leave to study with him.
Retirement from the military is interesting whether clowning around or MC'ing an event as the kilted Bonny Danny. But I still have time for art and writing. I have pictures in my mind that my abilities are not up to doing. However, one step at a time. One day they will become realities.
