Tonight I am going to a drawing class, compliments of my son. He gave me a gift card to Michael’s for Christmas. Immediately (okay, not so immediate – there are decorations to take down, you know) I scanned the website for the next class that might strike my fancy.

Viola! Drawing Still Life.

Now, you might say, M.B., why are going to a drawing class at your stage in life? Let’s look at the reasons why I shouldn’t go:

• My drawing will look a three year old can do better.
• I can wind up looking like a hopeless fool in a class of genuinely talented people.

The reasons I should go:

• My drawing can look like a three year old can do better. I actually have had that happen already with this same instructor, only this time the medium was acrylic paints. Humility is defined by a 10 year old painting the Sistine Chapel while you try to perfect the color wheel.
• I can end up looking like a hopeless fool in a class of genuinely talented people. Refer to number one.
• A new experience. There is a lot to be said for the empty nest. This is very true when your life revolved around travel hockey for about twelve years. Suddenly you have weekends and weeknights free!
• Rekindling my love of art. Many of you may not realize this (probably just my siblings and some old homeys from the Hickory Street Hooligans (a moniker I just made up), but I used to draw quite a bit growing up. After writing, painting and drawing, pottery and stained glass remain on my creative bucket list.

New experiences bring you closer to the inner you. It’s an opportunity to spread your wings and gain new self respect and perhaps even new friends.

Recently a friend from high school had a showing of her hand crafted jewelry at an art gallery. My husband and I went up to show our support and bask in the sunshine of creativity. This gallery also offers different classes. My ultra creative, gifted friend and I think we will try to get a group of us girls from high school and take a class together.

Tonight’s class is to be led by the same instructor who, upon perusing my very rudimentary color wheel asked me what I learned from the experience. I told her I had to work on my blending skills. In a very maternal manner, she looked at me and said, “That’s what you got out of it?”

It still makes me chuckle.

You’ve heard “Life is too short”. In many ways it is; especially without the ability to laugh at oneself. So tonight I shall venture forth and try to wake up my dormant drawing skills!

Thanks Son! This is will be a wonderful gift of self-discovery.

Photo by Jess Watters from Pexels https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-pencil-screenshot-750913/