I have always drawn;  apparently, some of my earliest art work was done on a high chair tray in spaghetti sauce.  In elementary school, I used my entire box of 64 Crayolas up before Christnas, ensuring more from Santa.  I wasn't a big fan of colouring in colouring books,  but I did like to study them to see how the different items were drawn.  I practiced, even then.

 

I took "Art" in high school,  but cannot say I learned much-  how to stretch a canvas, I remember that,  and that "going dark" is always best, because you can lighten a dark far easier than you can darken a light.  But colour was a mystery to me:  For some reason,  I could never make it glow the way I saw it in my head.  I kept trying, though.

 

Throughout my young adulthood, I would try my hand at this and that medium, oils, acrylics, watercolours.  I managed to pick up some skill in watercolours working with fine brushes and in meticulous detail, but then I blew discs in my neck, and the resulting damage made it so even signing my name was an adventure in scribbling:  Often, I was afraid the bank would send a check back saying "This is NOT your signature!"  It took me over  a year to control a pencil well enough to begin re-learning to draw,  but I've yet to recover the ability to use a brush.

 

But, in the meantime,  I discovered soft pastels.

 

Ohhhh-  these are *perfect* for me!  Rich, and varied, and forgiving-  they can mimic any of the usual "paint" mediums , it seems,  I have even achieved an impasto effect!  And since I find them so wonderful,  I don't hesitate to offer to teach others about them.  I've even included a few tutorials here,  and will certainly discuss mentoring with visitors who seem to be compatible with my technique. 

 

Please feel free to look around, and don't hesitate to contact me with questions or comments.  I look forward to hearing from you.