Thanks Colleen, Ken, Phil and Russ! I really appreciate the feedback. I must admit I got a good chuckle out of Russ's comment though - I like to think I'm young, and I try really hard to act young but the calendar says I'm 60 years old, a bit closer to 61 than 60 actually. I try to tell myself that I'm very young as far as art goes...:-O!!
We don't have kids, so it's easier to be in denial about our real age, and that led to a funny situation at college last year. I took credit art classes for three quarters at a local college and while there were a couple of 'non-traditional' students like me, most of my fellow students were late teens or 20-somethings. I had the same classes with a few of them for each of the three quarters and I fit in well, joked with them, etc. - just another student, right? So on the last day of class the last quarter, one of the young gals asked me what courses I was going to be taking in the summer quarter. I replied that because I play in a band and had vacations scheduled, I was not going to be taking classes, and then said that I was sad because I wouldn't get to be in class with them again. To which the young gal said, 'Oh, John, that's so sweet! We'll miss you too. You're kind of like the class grandfather!' :C:eek!:
I broke out into a belly laugh and said, 'Can I at least get a promotion to just being the class FATHER rather than GRANDFATHER?!' They all laughed, and the gal who said it tried her best to backpedal, much to my amusement - after all, chronologically, she was pretty much right on! :-C
I figure since I've made art my 'career' now that I'm retired, I'll hopefully be able to progress at least a bit with continued effort.
Anyway, as further motivation, I ordered and just received Lars Jonsson's two bird art books - which pretty much blew the last two nights as far as anything but flipping through them in total awe. I have an Eric Ennion book that should be here Monday, and will be ordering Tim's of course the minute it's available through Amazon.
I've definitely caught the bug...!