A True Authentic Hobbyist
I am in my late 70’s. My husband passed away two years ago. For the first time in my life, I am living alone and on my own.
It has been and continues to be an adjustment.
About a year ago I developed an interest in drawing. I have never had any kind of training, and I do struggle with technique, realism, perspective and sometimes even straight lines.
But I enjoy the heck out of it. I get lost in it and time flies by.
I guess it is a coping mechanism which helps me adjust to this new chapter of my life.
My interest in sketching blossomed into wanting to add color to my drawings. A YouTube video from a watercolor artist who teaches beginners, came across my feed and I immediately got hooked.
I have mastered neither of these pursuits, the drawing or the painting, but I carry on and am honestly obsessed.
I am a true authentic hobbyist.
Let me explain.
I would say that 50 percent of a hobbyist’s obsession with their chosen hobby is being able to make sure one has all of the necessary accoutrements.
My walk-in-closet, now the graveyard of my former hobby obsession, houses stacks of bins which contain hundreds of skeins of yarn, every size hook and needle imaginable, along with each and every gadget advertised by social media influencers that I simply had to have.
So back to my new hobby obsession, watercolor art.
Once again, social media influencers, this time watercolor artists, have convinced me that in order to get the same results as their landscape, I need have this paint, that brush, only this paper, and so on.
Since my walk-in closet is full, I have transformed my guest room into what I like to unabashedly call my “studio”.
Now mind you I am not complaining, after all as I explained earlier, shopping and accumulating the necessary “stuff” is quite enjoyable.
When I first moved into this community, someone gave me this piece of advice that has stayed with me.
“No one is going to come knocking at your door. It will be up to you.”
I recently discovered that my community has an art group. They meet once a week. I kind of stumbled across it when visiting the club house one Friday.
I have gone twice.
For my introverted self, this is a big deal. I am particularly shy about sharing my artwork.
The first time I went, I was warmly welcomed. There were about eight or nine of us there that day. We each had our own spot at a long table with enough room to spread out.
It appeared to me that the group was well established and had been meeting together for many years.
I have to admit I was a little intimidated by the obvious experience of the other members.
But I sat there and did my own thing.
The second time I went I found myself chatting with the woman and man who greeted me at the first meeting.
I can’t even believe, me the introvert, using the word chatting.
Anyway, from what I gathered, they both give one-on-one lessons.
After glancing thru my sketch book, they began to give me a little advice.
“You should be using larger paper.”
“Try not to rely on outlining your flower petals in ink.”
Now I know I should be looking at their comments, not as criticism, but more as helpful advice.
But instead, it made me want too close my sketch book, gather up my belongings and quietly vote myself off the island.
So perhaps drawing and painting aren’t my thing.
I am thinking that maybe Diamond Art is more my style.
Well, gotta go.
Off to Michales to get my, applicator pen, wax,mdrills, light pad, storage compartments and of course a diamond organizer.
I think I can make room in the guest/studio/Diamond Art room closet.
