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Do you find that your day gets consumed by social media? Why?

Now that I have been taking watercolor classes in person and online, I decided to take some acrylic painting classes through a local art gallery. The instructor was a featured artist in the gallery and classes would be local and convenient. Now, with the supply list in hand, I had to buy more paint, more brushes and a canvas. I decided to get the small bottles of paint since I didn't know if I would like acrylic painting.

Here is another one of the paintings that I did during classes with Harry Thompson and his wife, Jill. Can you tell that I wanted to learn to paint chairs? Painting chairs and their perspective is a bit daunting, so no more chairs for now. These hang in a guest bath and a guest room. Check out my blog on my website to see all of the paintings.



Now that Harry and Jill have gone back to painting and not teaching, I decided to try some online classes. One of the sites that I found, was 'Paint Basket' (http://www.paintbasket.com/) which is located in Australia. I signed up for classes online and began.



Each of the classes was about two hours and if you are unfamiliar with sites like these, they offer a wide range of classes, including drawing, watercolor, pencil, pastel, oil and more. There is also a wide range of subjects and they usually offer a free class.



These were a lot of fun and I found myself trying a variety of subjects, including water, still life and flowers.

None of these paintings would win an award, but every time I take a class (I still do), the better I get at painting watercolor. The main thing to remember about learning a new skill is, as the Nike Company-tag line says, 'JUST DO IT'!

Learning to paint has been a great experience. Learning is the key word. In order to improve at anything, classes are a must. Different teachers will impart their styles, so it is important to find a teacher with a style that you like. I happened to like the realistic style of painting that Harry Thompson and his wife Jill teach, which is wet onto dry paper.

Harry and Jill live here during the winter months, since their galleries are in Kennebunkport, ME and are closed for the winter. They held several classes during their time here, but really wanted to relax since the summer season for their galleries are 7 days a week. This was disappointing to me, since I had hoped to continue learning from them during the next winter season.

Since they are both vegan, I had invited them to dinner several times during the season and modified some of my favorite dishes by changing the protein to mushrooms and the like. Harry and Jill eat a lot of salads and beans with rice, so my husband suggested that I trade cooking lessons for art lessons.

So, the following winter, I created a vegan cookbook, with cheese made from coconut milk (cheddar and mozzarella), cakes with no eggs, grit cakes, gravy, mushroom sliders, zucchini 'crab' cakes and tons of other foods, but with a lot of desserts, especially cakes.

Harry taught me how to paint boats with reflection. A perfect solution for me and Harry. The vegan recipes were fun to make and my husband Frank was a happy participant in the eating of them. Some were so good, that I make them from time to time.

Check out the pictures on my website blog: https://bibigromlingart.com/blog/129435/learning-to-paint

My First Watercolor painting from a class with Harry and Jill

Having retired from an outside medical sales career, time was my friend in the beginning. I started and finished many projects that were hanging around, some put off for a long time. When I was still working, I would come home from a week away only wanting to sit in the sun, go to the beach, or just do nothing. Traveling for a living is hard work, especially if you stay in different hotels each night. So, now with nothing but time on my hands, I was thrilled. Try that for a while and after all the things you put off are finished, you will find that boredom sets in when there is too little to do.


So, with so much time available, I thought about volunteering for the local 'Turtle Patrol" but gave that up because you have to be up before dawn to track turtle nests. I am not a morning (getting up while it is still dark) person. My husband laughs when I mention that because he gets up before the sun comes up. I tell him that a proper Southern Lady doesn't get up before the sun.

OK, now what? Well, I have always liked to do things with my hands. I crocheted until I became allergic to yarn and have been an avid quilter. So, my husband suggested that I take an art class at Ocean Art Gallery where two fabulous artists and gallery owners from Kennebunkport, ME., Harry Thompson and Jill Previti (now husband and wife), were offering a watercolor workshop. I signed up and now the rest is history. I was hooked and have taken classes ever since.


Two other things I've learned since retiring? Don't turn on the TV and don't put off learning new things. It definitely keeps life interesting.