Friday, July 10, 2009

Color Box of Intention



I have always wanted to be an artist. There were artists on my father's side of the family....we have the paintings to prove it....My grandmother on my mother's side dabbled in painting after she retired from teaching.... My mother in law paints lovely watercolors...and my daughter Kate was an art major in college and is truly a talented artist...



As a young girl, I did draw and paint some ....I am a sometime calligrapher (wedding invitations, etc.) and used to make cut and pierced lampshades to sell for a local shop....I do a little art journaling....occasionally try my hand at a bit of altered art and...well, that's about it....
I blame it on lack of time....I know that is a poor excuse....true artists always find the time...
but my career and family life didn't exactly leave much free time for personal artistic pursuits...
S0...lack of time.... that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.....



Anyway.....I did find time to collect things through all of that.....and these are two artist's boxes that I found and bought over the years....



This box was purchased at a local antique show about twenty years ago....the seller was trying to impress me with the fact that it belonged to a renowned artist and illustrator of children's books who had once lived locally and passed away. I was not familiar with the artist and have since forgotten the name. At the time, however, I was enthralled with the box, its interesting contents, the obvious use it had seen and the mystique of the famous artist....



I imagined myself setting up my easel in a field of flowers....shaded by an old tree...sketching a scene and then dipping my brush into pots of wonderful colors, mixing them on this old wooden palette and creating a beautiful painting....



But I never got around to it.....in fact, over the years I have purchased quite a few art supplies and collected many and varied items to be used in my "art".....My son Dan once asked, "Mom when are you going to stop collecting stuff to use in your art and start creating art?"
I know I am going to start soon....I feel as if I am preparing... I'm getting ready....I have my area staked out for my "studio"....I have all sorts of supplies....and come the first part of next year my employer will be downsizing and I will be "retired"....then I will have time...then I will do art.



Kate reminds me that one doesn't "do" art....one creates art.....



Apparently the renowned artist's initials were A.M. .....
I AM going to do art soon.....

16 comments:

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

What wonderful boxes.You have SO just described me. I'm 58 now, studied art at school and got all of the relevant exams and don't think that I have painted a picture since !!! I do lots of 'artsy' things like shabby chicing furniture, etc. I am the official ' make and write the wedding invitations' for everyone that I know and their friends and relatives and my son's name is Dan and my daughter says that I should make use of all of the paints, pastels, charchol, oils and brushes that I own. Sorry ..... I've rambled. Can't wait to see your first masterpiece. XXXX

koralee said...

Oh that is my goal too...when i get older that is all i am going to do...i do need to find one of those lovely paint boxes..imagine sitting at the lake painting ....oh so romantic...i know you will keep your dream...happy weekend to you!

Unknown said...

Same story in my family. I was about 4 or 5 when I started painting/drawing. Got my first oils about 3 yrs later. Love it, still do it all the time and have sold a lot of my work. (I prefer acrylic these days though.) My family always encouraged and supported me. My Grandma and my Mom didn't start until in their 50's and they were/are wonderful artists! I'm hoping that one of my nephews or my niece pick it up as well. It's a wonderful way to relax. No time like the present to start! I'm of the mind that if you make a big thing out of starting...then it might be too overwhelming and maybe (at first) you won't live up to your own expectations. Just jump in, no mater how much time you allot for it!!! :-) You, are the master of your destiny! Tami E.
PS...I LOVE the art boxes! and your blog, well...let's just say that it is surely an artist that takes the pics, puts it together etc. It's artistry!

lia said...

What a wonderful box you have there. I am curious what you are going to make.

greets Lia

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

You made me giggle. One of these days I'm going to post my "scrapbook cabinet"....it's actually an armoir, filled with supplies. Everything a paper artist~scrapbooker could ever want or need. Sometimes I open it just to see everything. Haven't created a single thing.

;-)

Blessings,
Spencer

icandy... said...

Ah, I soooo love this box! I enjoy collecting anything art related... I have stumbled across a few old metal watercolor set boxes and they are absolutely too cool! They inspire me to pick up my paintbrush every time I look at them!!

Happy day!
Christina :)

Mélanie said...

What a beautiful find . May be a new artist will born . Love this kind of painter's box

Anonymous said...

Love that box...I am sure it has magical powers to inspire your work:). I don't paint, but it's never too late to learn.
A funny story about artist initials. When my eldest was young I had a lot of Mary Engelbreit art and whatnots around. She signs her artwork with her initials: ME. When he started making his own little artwork he would put M.E. on them. I explained to him his initials were MH. He said "No, mom, it was made by "ME". Isnt' that adorable?

Karen Eileen

Allidink said...

That is a neat artists box! I love the vintage look to everything. The only time I ever got to do art was taking a drawing class lol.

All the best,
Allison

lottens vita och gröna said...

hallo laura, what beautiful boxes, you know it is never too late, i belive it is your heart is speaking, follow that voice...
take care!
hugs lotten

Lisa said...

Lovely box! How nice it is so used!
Hugs, Lisa

Carole said...

I know how you feel....time,time,time...is our enemy. You just have to get started and once you do you'll never want to stop. It could be that with all that talent around you you feel a little intimidated. Don't be!!!!! Your art is for YOU and no one else... remember that!!!!
Big hugs,
Carole

Artsy Fartsy Junkin Finds said...

Lovely box! I know you will be painting soon. I have so many projects in my mind to create with my junk...but working a full time job and having these shops I never seem to have the time. I should be writing the ideas down however... with age I seem to be forgetting everything I was trying to remember to create!! Blessings, I am still loving your blog! Janna

Rebecca said...

Hello
What a great find...it reminds me of my dad's case. I grew up with the sweet smell of turpentine, my father was a commercial artist and had his studio at home. I lost him this year, thanks for a sweet reminder.
Blessings
Rebecca

VintageSunshine said...

It's funny...I've been kind of feeling that way too lately....just acquiring things to be put to use but not actually putting them to use! I just love to collect and have things around me that I love...It's nice to know I'm not the only one!

You can just feel the history and the mystery oozing off of that artist's box! Love those kind of finds!

Anne Marie said...

must be my box....A (Anne) M (Marie)

want to sell it?hee hee