![Why I Started Painting](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/6252/514469/5f63173485baf/Painting.jpg)
I have always been creative. From about the age of 12 I started making and designing my own clothes and continued to do this right through to adulthood. My brother was the artist in the family and, being two years older, his paintings were always a lot better than mine. It wasn’t until my youngest child was about 18 months old that I decided to attend an art course to provide some ‘me time’. Here I learnt all about drawing and tried my hand at pencil portraits of family members. Nothing like starting out with a hard subject matter! We were taught all about tone, shadows, highlights and perspective. From here we progressed to water colours and I found the paintbrush was not particularly my best friend. In fact, I probably would ot have continued with art if I hadn’t iscovered soft pastels. I have also abbled in acrylics, quickly returning to astels after discovering that I could not eplicate the immediacy of pastels..... nd I love getting my hands dirty!
Technique
I started using pastel pencils on paper nd then progressed to soft pastels, sing fixative between layers. I have ow developed my own technique of ainting in pastels which has evolved ver the last 18 years through trial nd error. I am sure it will continue to volve as I experiment with different ethods of applying the pastel.
Denne historien er fra Issue 38-utgaven av Artists Drawing and Inspiration.
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Denne historien er fra Issue 38-utgaven av Artists Drawing and Inspiration.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![Pelicans To Portraits](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6252/595358/6038909398322/crp_Pelicans-to-Portraits.jpg)
Pelicans To Portraits
This lady has painted everything from pelicans to portraits. She has completed commissions including cats, dogs, horses, possums, numerous beach scenes… and even a Scottish piper.
![“I Cannot Imagine Life Without Art”](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6252/595358/60388eb809af8/crp_I-Cannot-Imagine-Life-Without-Art.jpg)
“I Cannot Imagine Life Without Art”
Throughout her story you can feel the delight and joy that radiates from this artist as she describes her passion for art.
![The Noble Equine](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6252/595358/6038961493dff/crp_The-Noble-Equine.jpg)
The Noble Equine
Coloured pastel papers have been used to create this beautiful horse.
![To Be at One With Nature](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6252/595358/6038a965f1e2c/crp_To-Be-at-One-with-Nature.jpg)
To Be at One With Nature
“My art is who I truly am, and it has given me a freedom to become ‘just me’,” claims this talented lady.
![Making The Picture Sing](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6252/595358/6038a03937f2a/crp_Making-the-Picture-Sing.jpg)
Making The Picture Sing
Using her fine attention to detail, this artist creates a loving tribute to her subject.
![Thanks to Da Vinci](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6252/595358/6038935708029/crp_Thanks-to-Da-Vinci.jpg)
Thanks to Da Vinci
Wicked classroom caricatures and tattoos fired up the passion for this self taught artist to strive to produce the perfect drawing.
![My Story](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6252/595358/60389e340cb4c/crp_My-Story.jpg)
My Story
Sharing her passion for art has become a way of life for this determined and talented artist.
![Link to Life](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6252/595358/6038a1e18fd28/crp_Link-to-Life.jpg)
Link to Life
This artist adores pastels … a medium which she believes can fall between painting and drawing. Her art is truly her link to life.
![Don't Rock the Boat](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6252/595358/60389bc0eeccb/crp_Dont-Rock-the-Boat.jpg)
Don't Rock the Boat
What comes first … the title or the painting? For this colourful artist, it can be either – and experimenting can lead to accidentally creating individual techniques.
![Art for Steven](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6252/595358/603899a54240e/crp_Art-for-Steven.jpg)
Art for Steven
Some years ago, this man was inspired to make the transition from cartooning to painting. He had always wanted to express himself in this way, and he dedicates every painting to his late brother Steven who inspired him.