Rediscovering Art Forty Years Later

Rendering is of a home built in the Gatling Pointe community in Smithfield, Virginia.

After forty years of going about life as normal- attending college, graduating from college, starting a career in real estate, getting married, having children (three), working, going on vacations, coaching youth sports for 15 years, attending Virginia Tech ball games, etc., I have decided to do something that's always been there- that's using my ability to draw and transfer images I see onto a canvas.

I've been lazy. I've avoided the discipline it takes to create a work of art, something I dabbled with as a twelve year old, then later in college when I took electives to up my GPA.

When I got out of college, fear of failure motivated me to put 100% of my time, energy, and efforts into my work- selling real estate. Then it was focusing in on my family, building a new home, dedicating myself to raising kids, and juggling the balance between work and family time. Taking time out to draw and paint, well, that was all put on the back burner, and 37 years later, I have rediscovered the joy of sitting down and creating something that others seem to like and appreciate. I remember the great sense of accomplishment that came from finishing a sketch, rendering, or painting and then sharing it with others.

While it's still just a hobby, I have missed this ability that's really alway's been there- only to resurface on holidays and family birthdays- really the only time I practiced art. My kids seemed to like the cards I would make instead of a store bought card. Recently my oldest son saw an old card I had done which featured a rendering of our first house. Tyler proceeded to overnight mail me a large canvas with a note- to please paint a picture of our house, the one he just bought in Norfolk.

My son's home in West Ghent, Norfolk, Va.                      The Gatling Pointe Yacht Club, Smithfield, Virginia

After staring at that canvas for a month, I decided to sit down and try an ink drawing of his home. It took me around 30 hours, but the time I spent drawing was a time of peace and quiet, and joy. I guess maybe it was a retreat from what was going on in the world this past fall, but I loved the feeling- it was like therapy.

Now, twelve drawings later, I've set a goal to do one work of art every two weeks. It's still just a hobby, but one day, I'd like to offer my drawings for others. Right now, I'm still pretty busy with real estate, but I've dedicated myself to find the time to do what I've always wanted to do.

The Gatling Pointe Yacht Club pier and gazebo- Smithfield, Virginia