Sentinel of the West

I was digging around in the back of the storage closet and came across this old friend. I was 11 years old when I painted the “paint by number” I am sure that many of you remember the paint by number kits that were so popular in the Fifties. I was absolutely thrilled when Mom let me buy the kit with my allowance. I picked it out because I loved the colors so much. The turquoise against the wonderful grey browns just spoke to me. The Indian was so majestic and symbolic of this country, I had to have it.  I remember that there were all sorts of motifs for me as an 11 year old to chose from. Even after I got home with my kit, I didn’t have buyers remorse, I was sure that I had bought the best lo0king paint by number kit there was.

I have a lifelong history of attacking projects with a great deal of zest and quickly working through them, but I took great care and time to paint this beauty. I wanted it to be perfect. I wanted to savor ever second of creating what I considered a real work of art. Gosh I was proud of the painting. This was my very first oil painting. Even today I smile when I look at it. Sure I didn’t design it and I didn’t execute the drawing of this Sentinel of our country, but I did take great joy in completing it.

Now all these years later, as I pulled this old friend out of the dark reaches of that closet, all of these memories came flooding at me. Of course the memories are precious. I have to say that my Mom was most supportive of my artistic endeavors starting way back then and as I grew older. She tolerated the crazy things that I did as I pursued what I thought was a my talent. She even let me set up my easel and smelly paints/turpentine in the dinning room.  After 71 years, I have to say thanks for believing in me, Mom.