Page 32 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Summer 2020- Online Magazine

friends as gifts. For several Christmases, I painted
trays with snowmen or other Christmas motifs and
ow do you find a hobby? Is there some personalized them for the recipients.
reason you decide to try something for
Hthe first time and then continue pursuing
it? Did someone suggest you try it? How did it Time for painting went away for a number of years
happen that I started painting? All good questions! when I began teaching nursing students full time.
During those years, I also earned two graduate

The first time I remember painting was when we
lived in Overland Park, Kansas in the early 1970s,
when our children were tiny. I went with friends an
evening a week to learn how to do tole painting. We
went to the home of the instructor and purchased
oil paints and projects from her. The project I
remember the most was a wooden purse. The sides
were glued together, and it was lined after painting
scenes of each of our four kids on each of the four
sides of the purse. Those purses were popular, and
I carried it for several years. When we downsized
to move to a retirement apartment, our oldest son
asked if he could have the purse. He said he had
wonderful memories of that purse and the painting
on his side. Later, I switched to tole painting with
acrylics and even sold some of my paintings at
craft shows. They were mostly items like cutting
boards and trays. For many years, even after we
had grandchildren, I painted things for family and

32 Amarillo Senior Link