Hope Yet

My husband with two of our three kids

   My son had asked for us to visit the Workhouse Art Center (in Lorton, VA) every weekend for a while now, so today we finally went. It was amazing! There were beautiful glass pieces, woven and printed textiles, pottery, paintings and drawings of different media, wood and metal art. Tons of studios, displayed art, and gorgeous items for sale. We had a great time and learned some about stained glass and lampwork bead making from two gracious artists.

This beautiful double rainbow
appeared as we left!

   My title derives from visiting a painter whose portraits were incredible! After falling in love with her paintings at the gallery, we happened to meet her next door where she had just finished a commissioned oil portrait. It was stunning, really. But my hope stems from our conversation where she shared that she had never attended art school and, in fact, didn't pursue art until she was forty! I couldn't believe it! She studied oils for eight years, she said, until she felt she had accomplished something worthy of selling. This energetic woman is truly talented and often works sixteen hours a day on her paintings. I was blown away by their detail and realism              and hopeful...
           that maybe my dreams of painting aren't just in my head. 
                     

I asked to take a picture (photos aren't normally allowed) of this potter's wastebasket to remind me of her comment: "An artist only lets you see the finished piece." How many times does the artist make a mistake and try again before she ends up with the finished product that you finally get to see? Persistence and practice are often more important to an artist than talent.