Pursuing Your "Passion"!

It was about 2 years ago now that I first gave any serious thought to painting roses. The first picture below was my first attempt at viewing a video while pursuing a fluffy kind of rose. I flunked royally!! I've said it before and will say it again that my roses will never rival the popular artist of the day. They need have no fear of me! Trust me on this, I'm no serious threat to anyone, but I do have an aim/goal in life and that is to satisfy this passion in me to at least paint a decent rose painting. I want them a bit shabby and sort of impressionistic–oh, not in the true sense of impressionism, but in what I would call just a "hint" of being a rose. I think I've succeeded in that. It may not be everyone's "cup of tea" but I don't aim to please anyone but ME. ;-) It has been a real struggle, especially since we have no artists in this area who can or will teach a class and I have absolutely no inherent talent. ;-) Even Michael's recently told me they've cut their painting classes for anything. That was hard to take, but I could get a class on making Wilton roses outta nougat or paste or some such thing. Nuuuuuuu, I told the lady. I wanna paint a rose. She looked at me sadly and said, "Good luck." So I just practice, practice, practice and show my incredibly "unartistic" "ROSE." You can see my "progression" below but just bear in mind that the colors I use are for practicing and I can see how the colors form the rose. I am doing this on that awful ole newsprint and it's kind of a grayish recycled color background so I've made little dabs of color to see how it looks on different colored backgrounds. Some of these practice pages I've shown before but I've gone back over the roses with other colors and "redone" them - such as it is. I'm becoming more satisfied with the "consistency" of them anyway.

Now, why do I post this to show you??? Well, it's not about becoming perfect as an artist; it's about pursuing your passion. I'm a "passionate" person by nature and don't give up very easily on much of anything. But I have a passion for painting a rose or at least giving it a try. If you have a passion - no matter WHAT it is - pursue it. Don't give a hoot what others think or say. Don't even ask for their opinion; although, there are many who will give it without you even having to ask. But don't ask! It is your passion and yours to pursue. Don't listen to them or let them deter you from your passion to do whatever you want. (Within legal limits, of course. I mean I don't want you to become the perfect bank robber!) So that's why I post my "roses" for you to see and to keep me humble. I truly only care about what "I" think. Others can say whatever they want but I don't care one whit. Although, I have to admit my ebay group has been extraordinarily supportive and kind in their comments and encouragement of me. I probably drive them nuts though at times!! LOL Go forth and pursue your dreams. Enough said!!

I have to admit that this one pretty much looks like my hair on a "bad hair day" though!! LOL