Word Weaver Art: Wildlife

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Helen: Arkansas, United States; It was never my hope or dream to become an artist. I was never a doodler or a drawer, but on February 22, 2007 I attended a painting class. As soon as I completed my first painting, I couldn’t wait to begin another. Thirteen years and five hundred paintings later, I feel the same way… I can’t wait to begin another. While I am proud of my finished paintings, it’s the process that draws me in. I love each step… choosing an image, blocking in values and shapes, blending colors, noticing details, changing, adding, taking away… until finally it’s time to sign my name. The images I love to paint are those that tell stories, make me wonder… imagine… ask questions… I hope my paintings make others wonder, imagine, and ask questions. Although it took a few years and dozens of paintings, I believe I’ve learned to trust in the process. Paintings go through ugly stages, but those are necessary parts of the process. It's a favorite moment when a stroke of paint finally brings life into a painting. That’s when I say aloud, “Well, hello there!” and smile at the canvas. My goal is to finish the one I’m working on, smile at the canvas, then begin another.