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How I Became an Artist
by Ruth Read
When I owned my pet shop, I was always asked if I knew someone that would do pet paintings. The clients said they would love to have oil paintings of their pets to hang in their houses.
For years I never knew any artist. When we would take the kids to a museum or see art fairs I would always say to my family; I could do that. I always told my husband I am going to paint, and write children’s stories when I get older and the kids are grown. (After I started painting he would sometimes joke and ask when I was going to write those stories.)
One day I had to go to a small store and when I parked I had to walk past an art store that had a sign “art lessons”. Well. I was having a rather hard time in my life at the time so I decided that I needed to change my life. For some reason I could not go past that art store without going in.
I was given a tour and classes were going on. I paid for a whole series of classes because I knew that if I walked out without paying I would not come back. I was exhausted and it would be tough. The teacher allowed me to go whenever I could and just allowed me to fit in. Well, I laugh because I could only go on Saturdays. That was the children’s class.
So there I sat at a kids table with 4 – 10 year olds; that was the best thing that ever happened to me. Kids have a way of asking questions and teachers have a way of explaining to kids better than to adults. Even though I was taking a drawing class, some of the kids were taking oil painting. I sometimes just watched the kids paint.
Later when I started painting I seemed to have the answers that somehow came to me (Except when mixing the paint). That school never allowed students to mix their own paints. So when I started to paint I went to another school to ask how to mix the colors. I knew the owner there.
Somehow I took off painting really fast after that and with the books I bought on how to paint wildlife step by step. I really believe that even though I did not paint in that children’s art class, I was watching, and that made it so possible for me to do well in the beginning.
I started painting at home and my husband fixed a studio for me so I did not have to go anywhere to paint. And yes, I sold my very first painting.
My clients were so happy and somehow painting had such a healing effect on me.
After a few years, I sold my business and now I just paint. I am addicted to painting.
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