Inspiration…
Imagine going your whole life and not knowing that you had an incredible gift to share with the world. That is what happened to me. At nearly 57 years of age I discovered my talent in fine art.
Less than two years ago, a friend of mine had encouraged me to take a group painting class at the local art school. I created a portrait in oils of my cat Peaches during that 8-week session. It was fun and satisfying enough for me to want to participate in a second session.
Let me back up a little but. I am a die-hard Boston Celtics fan. I have been a growing fan since 2014. I went to a few games before 2020, dragging friends with me. During Covid, I watched the Celtics and the other NBA teams play on a daily basis, and credit them and the NBA players in the “bubble” for getting me through that difficult time. The next season I made the fortuitous decision to join the band of season ticket holders once we were able see the games in person at TD Garden. Why is this important? I believe that if I had not been such a “rabid” Celtics fan, I may never have realized my talent in painting portraits.
Ok, so back to art. My second attempt at oil painting was a portrait of Celtics player Marcus Smart. I completed the work in March of 2023, and at that point it struck me that maybe I had something. From that point on, I continued on my own to paint different players, teaching myself with trial and error, and could see my progress with each portrait. Friends and people on social media know me as a Boston Celtics fan, and now as a painter of the players (and coach!).
I am taking steps to make the most of my gift and to share it on a professional level. I have done a number of animal portrait commissions, and expect to do the same with people portraits, particularly sports figures. I will be forever grateful to the Boston Celtics for inspiring me to discover my gift. Excitingly, I have found a passion for painting landscapes and buildings. All of my free time is spent in front of an easel these days, and I am accepting commissions for all kinds of subjects!