Life Perspective: Reviews & More

  May Flowers Why Take Up Art Later in Life? People have asked me why I took up art later in life. What made me think that after a lifetime of not being able to draw simple shapes, that I could take up painting now? The answer is both simple and complex. The simple answer is: I desperately needed something positive and joyful in my life. But the story is a bit more complicated. I have always been an avid hiker and photographer. I love to travel, love to take off hiking wherever I go and love to photograph what I see, However, I had back surgery a few years ago and am now looking at hip surgery in the near future, so I am no longer able to hike. This has removed an important avenue for joy and communing with God and nature as well as capturing the beauty I see. In addition, having recently suffered a great personal loss, as well as the loss of much of my mobility, I was facing depression and grief without my best outlet for recovering joy since long hikes are now out of the question...

I have continued with the painting, learning my new craft and enjoying capturing images that are meaningful to me on convas. This one is titled "Mountains May Be Moved Into the Sea" and is inspired by similar Bible verses.  This one is "Sun Through Trees," a study of how the light of the setting sun effects colors and the appearance of objects around it.  Both were challenges to get me out of my comfort zone of mostlay painting flowers.  See my earliest paintings at  Kathryn Darden Artist  

Ranunculus 1 and 2.   While this blog is typically for reviews and articles about the works of others, I thought I would share my new hobby: painting! While I took a children’s art class in elementary school, as well as one in high school, I didn’t think I had the “art gene.” I don’t have good hand to eye coordination, and can neither draw a straight line or a circle. I cannot even draw a decent stick figure, and my handwriting is abysmal  so how could I possibly paint? However, after a particularly rough season in my life, I needed a big change— a creative outlet, something new , and God opened an unexpected door.  I found myself buying a canvas, acrylic craft paints, and a small set of paint brushes  They set on my table for a few weeks  Then I started watching Bob Ross paint happy little trees, but I was not confident enough to jump in   A couple of days later I met a lady at work who told me she was attending an online painting party, and she gave me th...

Tolkien journal 'Silver Leaves' Issue 4 features art, essays, poems & dragons “It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien The respected Tolkien-based journal, “Silver Leaves” Issue 4 , is back from the printer and ready to ship. Published in Canada by the White Tree Fund as a literary and artistic journal for Tolkien and fantasy fans, the theme of this issue is Dragons. I am so pleased to have three of my own poems included in this edition of "Silver Leaves" -- "Dragon," "A Friend Like Sam," and "Snow Sprite." Article at: Tolkien journal 'Silver Leaves' Issue 4 features art, essays, poems & dragons - Nashville Gospel Music & Entertainment Examiner Related Blog Posts: ' Silver Leaves' Looks at Dragons in Their Many Forms in Issue 4 'Here Be Dragons' - Yahoo! Voices 'Silver Leaves' issue 4 Releases Featuring Christian Art, Poems ...

'Silver Leaves' Looks at Dragons in Their Many Forms in Issue 4 'Here Be Dragons' Issue 4 of the esteemed literary journal " Silver Leaves " was published on September 22, 2012--also known as "Hobbit Day." The journal begins shipping in October 2012 with the title "Here Be Dragons." The academic Tolkien journal features three of my own poems among the works of many esteemed artists and respected writers. Read the article at: 'Silver Leaves' Looks at Dragons in Their Many Forms in Issue 4 'Here Be Dragons' - Yahoo! Voices Also see: 'Silver Leaves' issue 4 Releases Featuring Christian Art, Poems & Essays | Christian Activities