{"id":2337,"date":"2023-09-17T17:55:08","date_gmt":"2023-09-17T21:55:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maryahernartist.com\/art-blog\/?p=2337"},"modified":"2023-09-17T17:55:08","modified_gmt":"2023-09-17T21:55:08","slug":"the-start-of-my-art-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maryahernartist.com\/art-blog\/the-start-of-my-art-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"The Start of my Art Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 1973, fifty years ago I began my artist\u2019s journey. Since I\u2019d majored in music during my Junior and Senior High School days, playing the trumpet and conducting, I hadn\u2019t taken any art classes. It wasn\u2019t until my youngest son went to pre-school that I began stretching my wings.<\/p>\n

My first step towards discovering that my life\u2019s work would be an artistic journey was buying a Jon Gnagy, Learn to Draw set and experiencing a sensation that the charcoal was an extension of my hand, my arm and my body. It was thrilling!<\/p>\n

After completing his entire set of drawing lessons, I decided to take painting classes at the local YMCA where I lived at the time in Queens, NY. So, I arranged for a babysitter, signed up for the oil painting class and made my first foray into Jerry’s Artarama art supply store with my supply shopping list in hand. How electrifying to be exposed to so many wonderful and exciting new products, widgets, thingies, colors, brushes, papers and canvas. Oh, the possibilities!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And that began my art supply <\/strong>addiction ;-)<\/strong><\/em><\/span>.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"Peach

Still Life with Peaches, my second oil painting which was completed in 1973<\/p><\/div>\n

Along with the small tubes of Grumbachers, some brushes, canvas boards and mediums, we were instructed to bring some pictures from calendars or notecards that we could use to copy. My first calendar photo was of a brilliant orange sunset with the silhouette of a house at the bottom. I still have these early paintings, some on walls, some tucked away.
\nThe second oil painting I ever did I copied from a placemat that I had borrowed from a neighbor.<\/p>\n

I so loved the image, not knowing at the time that it was representative of the golden age of Dutch still life painting from the 1600s. I had no formal knowledge of art history but, being Dutch, and having spent time in Holland as a child I had been exposed to the art hanging in the homes of my extended family. That still-life image spoke to me in a way I didn\u2019t understand at the time. It spoke to me of family, of my history, of roots, of connection. It is also part of my art journey, not just another painting but the beginning of a 50-year adventure with all the ups and downs, zigs and zags. An adventure that, I\u2019m happy to say is still unfolding!<\/p>\n

This is my studio wall from some years ago with artwork covering a piece from many decades. Some are now in storage, some have moved to different walls. All of them speak to me of my life and artistic journey of these exciting 50 years of creativity.<\/p>\n

\"Studio

One of my studio walls in 2019 with work from before college, during college and after college. Various mediums from oils to pastels to needlework to watercolor.<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In 1973, fifty years ago I began my artist\u2019s journey. Since I\u2019d majored in music during my Junior and Senior High School days, playing the trumpet and conducting, I hadn\u2019t taken any art classes. 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