A Change of Perspective (Holly Schindler)

 Art is becoming an increasingly bigger part of my life. 

Work in progress: A watercolor feather. First time I've used watercolor in this century.

 

 

 

This has been happening for the past ten years or so. 

I mean, art was an enormous part of my life when I was younger. In high school, I took every single art class my school offered. I worked the All-School Art Exhibits at the Springfield Art Museum. My college application to then-SMSU was as a prospective art major. 

When I switched to all things English, I left art behind. 

And then, about ten years ago, I started publishing some work of my own. To do that, I had to create covers. Design interiors. 

And the itch to get back to art started. 

A couple of years ago (inspired by Carrie Jones's Be Brave Friday series on social media and a few design IG videos from @heyalissandra), I bought an iPad. My art skills had completely stalled where I was when I was eighteen, so I got a Skillshare subscription. I bought online art courses. I finally dug in and learned Illustrator. I learned how to make patterns and greeting cards. 

This past Christmas, I got a ton of art supplies. I just got my office cleaned out so that I can move the supplies in. 

I'm now learning to use my watercolors. And let me tell you, there is something about drawing and painting that changes how your mind works. Doesn't matter how good the art is. It's the process of learning to translate something visually onto the page. It changes what you see. It changes your perspective. It changes how you write. Because it changes what you see as possible. 

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Holly Schindler is the author of The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky