HISTORY OF AN ARTIST

 Yesterday, a new client I am working with who lives in Ohio

asked me how I got started in this art business of Home Portraits.

I have been asked and told the story many times and maybe

have even posted it here somewhere, but its a good story to tell

and I want it here for prosperity's sake.

THREE YEARS AGO, THIS AUGUST, I WAS MAKING 

A LITTLE MONEY SELLING MY CRAFTS.

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CRAFTY AND THOUGHT OF 

IT AS A HOBBY THAT COULD BRING ME IN A FEW EXTRA DOLLARS.

YET, I ALSO FELT LIKE I WAS TO DO MORE WITH THIS

BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO WITH IT.

AS A CHILD, HAVING HAD CANCER, I COULD NOT DO A LOT

OF SPORTS AND THINGS MY FRIENDS WERE DOING SO 

MY PARENTS PUT ME IN ART LESSONS WITH GODLYN SERIGNY.

EVERY SATURDAY, MY DAD WOULD DRIVE ME TO HER LITTLE HOME

FOR A FEW HOURS OF PAINTING LESSONS.

I LOVED THE SMELL OF LINDSEED OIL AND PAINT AND 

IF I SMELL IT NOW, I AM TRANSPORTED BACK TO HER HOME.

I DID PAINTING LESSONS WITH MRS. GODLYN FOR ABOUT 8 YEARS

BUT THEN BECAME A TEENAGER AND DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT 

ANYMORE AND ALTHOUG I WOULD PICK UP A PAINT BRUSH EVERY

ONCE IN A WHILE, I DIDN'T DO MUCH OF IT AS I GREW UP TO

BECOME A NURSE, WIFE AND MOTHER.

THEN CAME A DIVORCE, AN EARLY RETIREMENT FROM NURSING

AND GROWN CHILDREN AND I KNEW I WANTED TO DO MORE

WITH MY LIFE BUT WAS NOT SURE JUST WHERE I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO.

IN MY MOM'S LAST FEW MONTHS OF HER LIFE,

SHE BOUGHT MYSELF AND MY 6 SIBLINGS A BEAUTIFUL ROSARY

THAT WAS HANDMADE TO THANKS US FOR TAKING CARE OF HER.

MY SIBLINGS AND I  OFTEN PRAY ON THIS ROSARY WE

CALL THE "MOMMA ROSARY" AT THE SAME TIME AND DAY

WHEN WE HAVE SOMETHING WE NEED TO PRAY ABOUT OR FOR.

SO ONE NIGHT BACK THREE YEARS AGO IN AUGUST,

I SAID A MOMMA ROSARY TO HELP LEAD ME TO WHERE AND WHAT

I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO WITH MY LIFE.

THE VERY NEXT MORNING I FELT CALLED NOT TO PAINT MY COTTAGE

BUT TO PAINT MY NEIGHBOR, RHETT'S HOME.

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED HIS HOME AND HAD IT BEEN FOR SALE WHEN

I WAS READY TO BUY I POSSIBLY WOULD HAVE BOUGHT THAT ONE.

I TEXTED RHETT TO ASK IF I COULD PAINT HIS HOME.

HIS FIRST REACTION WAS "MY HOUSE IS BRICK"

I CLARIFIED THAT I WANT TO PAINT A PORTRAIT OF HIS HOME.

"OHHHHH, YEAH GO FOR IT" WAS HIS RESPONSE.

THEN MY MIND JUST TOOK OFF I FOUND AN OLD CERAMIC FLOOR TILE

AND AN OLD NEWSPAPER FROM THE 1800'S, PUT THOSE 

TWO THINGS TOGETHER AND BEGAN TO SKETCH AND PAINT HIS HOME.

I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I SAW WHAT I HAD CREATED.

I NOT ONLY DID NOT KNOW THAT I COULD PAINT LIKE THIS

BUT I ALSO COULD NOT BELIEVE I HAD DONE THIS PIECE.

I SENT A PHOTO OF THE PAINTING TO RHETT AND RIGHT

AWAY HE WANTED TO BUY IT, FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.

I POSTED IT ON FACEBOOK AND SINCE THAT DAY, I HAVE NOT RUN

OUT OF CLIENTS AND ORDERS TO PAINT HOME PORTRAITS.

THAT'S MY STORY, A TRUE GIFT FROM GOD.

THANKS TO ALL WHO TRUST ME WITH THEIR HOME PORTRAITS.