Art Wings

When I was a senior in high school I spent first and fifth periods everyday working on getting my pieces ready for the AP Art exam. I opened up my old AP Art portfolio this morning, looking for a watercolor to show to Valerie. It was there--two angels, one comforting the other sitting on a leaf among flowers.

Most of the images in the portfolio are of flying, floating, or winged figures. There is a definite theme to the work. Clearly, I desired to spread my wings, to fly. I was looking ahead to going off to university to study art. And to become me.

{I am quite pleased to find that I still have a strong connection to some of the pieces, including the one above. And I love that this image I made at seventeen can bring up even more meanings for me today. I think I'll frame it.}

Initially, I was in an art education program designed to prepare me to be a high school art teacher. After two years in "the city" (or "the armpit"), away from my family, I transferred to another university closer to home, where I flourished and graduated with a BA in Art Studio. I went on to earn a teaching credential after I discovered my love of speaking Spanish, and found out that I liked working with young children. I was a teacher for 8 years.

Then Valerie was born. I was ready for a change--little did I know that would mean becoming a stay at home mom. Then Andrew came along. Motherhood was all-encompassing (and often overwhelming); art had been on the back burner for so long. But suddenly, as I looked ahead, I could imagine a time when I would be able to do...

Well, several things: catch my breath, clean out the den, get back to a career, contribute financially to the family. And maybe, just maybe, use my art degree. So, with just a couple more years 'til Andrew is in kindergarten, I'm starting to dream, even plan a little bit.

I can feel my art wings fluttering.

P.S. As always, many thanks to Ms. T., my high school art teacher who has always been an inspiration to me.