Going down a new path

Well, it's been nine months since I retired. Almost like a pregnancy, I've given birth to a new path for my life.

I started teaching decorative painting.

I love it! It's been a dream of mine for a while but I didn't feel I had the time or was brave enough to do it sooner.

It seemed it was now or never to pursue the dream.

I started decorative painting in 1987 with Arlene DeCoster. Later I began painting with Sandy DeAngleo and have been with her ever since. I've attended painting classes with other artists over the years and am always amazed at what I don't know about the art and at the skills and techniques that I've never tried before. It's a constantly changing art, which makes it exciting.

What is decorative painting?

It is the decoration of objects made of various materials by painting on them, using various painting techniques, some borrowed from fine art and others inherited from traditional forms of the folk arts of yesteryear. Folk art, tole painting are some other terms used.

The paint medium used is mostly acrylic paints, quick to dry and easy to clean with water and soap.

If you attend any craft shows, you'll see that decorative artists will paint on anything … from old saw blades, wooden ironing boards, old coffee pots, ice skates, tables, chests, lamps - you name it, we'll paint it. Harry says if he sat long enough in one spot, I'd paint him!

Whenever I give a gift of something I've painted, I always hear, "You're so talented. I wish I could paint like that." I always respond, "You can."

I tell people that decorative painting doesn't take talent … which I do not have. What I do have is an arsenal of learned skills and techniques … all of which anyone can learn.

One of my teacher's favorite things to say is, "It's miles on the paint brush." Which means, as in any learned skill, practice makes perfect. And if not perfect, at least pretty in your eyes. The more you do something, the better you become.

I belong to a group called Pocono Painters of Northeast Pennsylvania, a chapter of the Society of Decorative Painters, a national organization. We meet once a month in Brodheadsville. Each month we have someone teach us a project.

I've attended a few decorative painters' conventions over the years and taken classes with nationally known teachers.

I've become aware that most of the people who attend these are, well, how do I put this delicately … old. Let's say that at 64, I'm like one of the youngest in attendance. I would hate to see my art become a dying one.

So I decided to offer a class to beginners, people who have said they would like to paint like I do but never thought they could. Most of my new students have never painted before.

I absolutely love it when after completing a technique, someone says, "Oh my gosh! I can't believe how great that looks!"

And when I hear someone moan, "I can't do this," I get a thrill how when I take a few moments of one-on-one with her, she finds she can do it.

A project can take anywhere between three to four weeks to complete. As they pack up to go home after a class, I'll hear someone say, "This looks terrible."

So I have passed on the words of wisdom from my teacher to them when they leave. …" Don't worry. The Paint Fairy will come in the night and the next morning it will look great."

It makes my heart smile when they come back the next week and say, "The Paint Fairy really did come and it did look better in the morning."

My class has only completed two projects to date. Last night as they were packing up to leave, they couldn't help but look at their pieces in amazement.

"I can't believe I painted that," Dora said.

"I love it," Renee said.

Cindy takes pictures after each class so she can see the progression she makes. Her husband is very impressed with what she has accomplished in so short of time.

I can't believe what I taught them fills them with such joy. It's very humbling. And fulfilling.

I'm having the time of my life passing on my love of decorative art.

It's my hope that I can reach some younger people so this art form continues to be passed on to the next generation.

If someone would have told me 28 years ago, that I would be teaching a painting class, I would have probably snorted Coca-Cola out of my nose and laughed in their face.

We just never know where the path of life will lead, do we?