An Accidental Artist

| Whitt’s End Art

I have very limited art training. The sum total of my formal training being a few classes at the local community college. I am what I call an accidental artist. I stumbled into it because I wanted to be a cartoonist like Charles Schulz. I started drawing my own cartoons based on a cat I used to have.

I then moved on to silly cartoons panels. I even got to the point where I would send my cartoons out, yes send them out, to the big agencies. Most just sent back the standard, “Don’t call us we’ll call you,” letter.

A little while later I took a class on pastels. I loved and still love the ease of use of soft pastels. Now oil pastels are a little more difficult to use but I love the brilliance of the colors. Today I have branched out to all mediums.

What is the point of this whole ramble? Just this, do not devalue you artistic ability just because you’re what I call an accidental artist. Someone who just for the shear joy…creates. An artist is an artist.

#479 The Fisherman

| Whitt’s End Art

A small 6×9 abstract pastel painting of a boy fishing. The picture was created on a piece of Strathmore drawing paper. I spent the day at the beach. I don’t go into the water. I just enjoy looking out over God’s creation. It inspires me. My advice today is to take some time and enjoy what is around you.

#478 Vase of Orange and White Flowers

| Whitt’s End Art

I decided to let my inner artist take over for this painting. Parts of the painting are more simplistic than I usually create but I like the end result. The painting is an 8×10 acrylic painting created on a canvas panel. I think in our Christian walk we sometimes overthink things. I feel that is why Jesus said to have faith like a little child, because children don’t overthink things they just have faith it will happen.

#477 Blowing in the Wind

| Whitt’s End Art

This drawing is another of my 6×9 paintings. The painting was created using oil pastels and a #2 pencil on a piece of Strathmore paper. Someone once said, I don’t know who, that in order to love what you do you have to do what you live. I love art and would love to work as an artist full time. The fear have is this, too much of a good thing is not always a good thing. In other words would art lose its appeal. I don’t know but I would sure love to find out. So ends my wisdom for today.

#477 Blue Vase

| Whitt’s End Art

The Blue Vase is my first foray into oil pastels. The painting is done on 6×9 Strathmore drawing paper. Oil pastels I thought would be similar to crayons but their not. They’re much more pliable and colorful. I will continue to play with oil pastels creating more art with the medium in the future. Learning something new in life is like learning something new in art. You have to jump, no be afraid to take chances and above all keep going.

#476 Lady Walking Away

| Whitt’s End Art

A 6×9 piece of wall art done in a mixed media of colored pencil and oil pastel. The lady is a reminder to us all that we can’t always see what is ahead of us in life. This is why we must always put our trust and faith in God to carry us along and through whatever comes our way.

#475 Orange Slice

| Whitt’s End Art

#475 is a hard pastel painting rendered on a 6×9 piece of Strathmore sketch paper. The orange piece is sitting on a pink saucer. I have taken a turn in my art. I am leaning more towards the abstract than realism well except for my portraits which can be found on tbwhitt.wordpress.com.

I think in life I have also taken a turn. As you age life through your eyes looks different. Some get a little scared and fill life with realism, I.E. toys of all kinds. Me, I see the last decades of mart life in a different way. I see these years as a time of greater faith and greater service which to the world is a little abstract. A far cry from the self service world live. So I leave it up to Whom you will serve, yourself or God.

#474 Big Yellow Flower Redo

| Whitt’s End Art

Once in a while I decide to redo one of my older drawing bags. This tine it is my big yellow flower. I painted over the pen and ink drawing using a light wash of acrylic paints. I love the way the drawing now pops from the old book page. It will good look good in a frame.

#473 On The Dark Blue Sea

| Whitt’s End Art

The wind is gone. The sails are down, The boat is idly sitting on the dark blue sea. The painting is a 9×12 acrylic painting rendered on watercolor paper. I could use this painting for a lot of metaphors but I won’t. The only thing I’m going to say is as I sit here on this rainy day is that God is our source of life and He alone is the wind that pushes our boat long. Lift up your life and feel the wind.