The First Blog

I assure you, this will be an inconsistent blog. I am experimenting with it. I love to write, and I love to share, and where else can I be myself on this site? I am just kidding, really--this whole site is me. And that is SCARY! I am putting it all out there. 

You know, art is art. And every artist has their own style. Yet there are artists who represent reality, well, like reality. I do that, to an extent, yet I have to say I was highly influenced by the work of Claude Monet in my childhood. I do not try to recreate the scene identically. Instead, I love playing with the colors, mixing them and shading shapes and then seeing in the end that I have created a painting that brings me peace and that I would be happy to hang on my wall. And I hope you will feel that way too!

Since this is the inaugural blog (and what better way to keep you coming back for more than to bore you with the "this item is dedicated to.." but so be it), I want to acknowledge a few people.

I don't think anyone really "dedicates" a webpage to anyone, and of course any endeavor is a village, but if I were to do so, I would dedicate it to James A. Fisher. James A. Fisher was a WWI veteran who lived through the Great Depression, which colored everything he did afterwards. James A. Fisher was also my grandfather, the man who taught me how to ride a bike, tie my shoes, and, terrifyingly, place a quarter on the countertop and buy a daily newspaper at the local convenience store. Without rehashing my college application essay, let's just say he was my relentless supporter in anything I did, but particularly where I "applied myself." After a Ph.D. and a succesful two-decade research career, I can accurately say I applied myself. And I have to say, I am completely applying myself to this current experiment/adventure.

There are some obvious people I must mention here because they are central to my new explorations. Bryan, my love, who is steadfastly supportive and protects me from my tendency to waste away by saving everything for later. And Mom, who is also extremely supportive and whom I am thrilled to be sharing a zipcode with.

And there is one more person whom I must thank. She doesn't know me, and may not have any recollection of having met me, but her name is Barbara Leonard. She lives in Durham and sells her paintings on Facebook marketplace. I was intrigued by her paintings as I decorated my new house. Her work inspired me to pick up a paintbrush and try. And the rest, as they say...is here on this site.

Thanks for joining me on this journey.