My first painting was a terrifying but rewarding experience. It’s the first time I’ve seriously set out to make art with paint since I was a kid in school. I had some guidance, but for the most part we were both learning as we went along.

To say that I “painted” in the traditional sense of the word is a lie. I used paint to cartoon on canvas. I tried to get ambitious things got away from me pretty fast. So I returned to my safe-zone, deciding it was better to go with my strengths my first time around. Once I looked at the canvas like I was working in Photoshop things got easier. Fill an area with color and then stroke with a nice thick expressive line. Maybe that’s cheating, but you need to understand how easy it is to get discouraged and abandon art. I was worried I would walk away from this and give up. I wanted to finish it and feel some sense that I had accomplished something worthwhile.

Painting is this corner of art I’ve not screwed up in yet. All my mistakes are ahead of me. It’s got a different pace. I can see myself doing it simply because it’s relaxing and thrilling to be trying something different. I’m excited to learn more about REAL painting and see what I can do. Maybe I’ll take classes. It’s also nice to finish something and have an original piece of art at the end of the day.

This first painting I’ll keep. Mike says you always keep your first painting. I’ll hang it up at the office when I get it home. But this will not be my last painting and hopefully I can do it on a regular basis. Maybe I’ll start a side business selling originals.

Pictures of the process can be found on my flickr page.