From "Thick" to Thriving: An Artist's Journey from the Cellar to Canvas
Born in '58, one of six children, my early life wasn't exactly a smooth canvas. School was a struggle, family life often took precedence, and by the time I reached high school, I was playing catch-up. Back then, if you weren't a whiz at reading, writing, and arithmetic, you were written off. I found myself in the "bottom class," where creativity was a luxury we couldn't afford. Art? That was for the "clever" ones, not someone deemed "thick."
Life took another turn when I became a single parent at 19. Money was tight, and "make do and mend" became my mantra. That's where my creative spark first flickered. I'd paint old brown furniture to brighten it up, use stencils to add a splash of color to the walls. Looking back, I suppose that was the start of my journey, but life had other plans, and my artistic dreams were put on hold.
Fast forward to my 60th birthday. I decided it was now or never. I stumbled upon paint pouring videos on YouTube and was instantly captivated. The problem? Space and mess. Luckily, my other half came to the rescue, clearing out a corner of our large, junk-filled cellar. To my surprise, I actually sold a few of my creations! I set up a Facebook page called "Art Cellar" and dived in.
But the mess and the waste of paint started to get to me. I decided to try my hand at traditional brushwork. After about three months, I plucked up the courage to post some paintings on Facebook Marketplace. Again, I was shocked when someone actually bought them. Then, a lady contacted me, wanting to see a painting she'd spotted online. She came over, didn't buy the original piece she'd inquired about, but instead fell in love with my poppy painting and a large 3ft canvas. A few days later, she rang and asked if I could do a commission! She lived in a large farmhouse and, in the end, commissioned a staggering 16 large flower paintings. I felt on top of the world!
Then COVID hit. Sales slowed but didn't stop completely. I still managed to sell a few originals and prints. But it felt like starting all over again.
Anyway, here I am, battling on and loving it still. I hope people like my work and that some might want to buy it again. Thanks for reading.
