What I Did Way Back BW (Before Writing) Part 1

/ Marcia Meara

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Thought maybe it would be fun to learn more about each other, and to make it easier for you to confess to your past lives, I’ll start. For many years, I was a painter. I tried my hand at lots of styles, but I enjoyed tole and decorative painting the most. My rule of thumb was, if it sat still long enough, I’d paint something on it. I sold my items at various craft fairs, on my website, and on eBay. I also taught decorative painting and acrylics on canvas for beginners.

Things painted on rustic wood were always big sellers for me, especially during the holidays. (These pictures were taken long before iPhones and digital cameras existed, so excuse the poor quality.)

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Facial detail.

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I painted seasonal things, like these:

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bookitty

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And things on slate, wood, tinware, jars, and even rocks. And oh, yeah. Even canvas!

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You get the idea, I’m sure. And truly, I loved to paint, whether it was decorative painting, like above, or landscapes and seascapes. But then, I discovered digital painting, and my whole focus changed. (See Part 2).

26 thoughts on “What I Did Way Back BW (Before Writing) Part 1”

  1. Oh, I love those pieces, Marcia. You’re multi-talented! My husband is an artist; he illustrates my book covers. I’ve learned a lot from him about art and the processes involved in creating a painting, just as he’s learned a lot from me about the craft of writing. I hope you still find time to enjoy artwork as a diversion from being an author. 🙂

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    • Thanks, Linda! I still have my studio room set up, Linda, but I paint very seldom, as my vision is no longer what it once was. (Why do our parts wear out before we’re done with them? I wasn’t finished with my eyes OR my ears, but both are failing me now.) I painted (and taught painting) for a long time, so I’m okay with moving on to writing, now. Writing is what I should have been doing all along. Painting was always a creative stop-gap for that. Still, it was fun. I don’t have too many of my own painted things, except for Christmas decorations, because I sold them all. Which was good at the time, but now I wish I’d kept a few special pieces. Oh, well. 😀

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      • Don’t feel alone, Marcia. My eyes and ears are shot, too, due to migraine and Meniere’s. When the vertigo hits, I’m down for the count. All those years I worked at Prudential and could only write part time…Boy, what I wouldn’t do to get those days back. I could accomplish so much more then.

        Here’s to us Golden Girls, still plugging away! xo 🙂

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        • Yay for us! I plan to keep on writing until I forget what words are! 😀 Why not? I’m sure not going to sit in a rocking chair all day, dreaming about times gone by. I’m too busy thinking about times still to come! 😀

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  2. These are wonderful. I love folk art. I can see you have always exercised that creative part of your brain! I used to sew my own clothes before I started writing seriously. I gave my sewing machine to my daughter before we moved to Spain as it was getting dusty.

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    • Thanks, Darlene. I enjoyed folk art and tole for many years, then got into canvas, then switched to digital. So a lot of time enjoying various techniques, before I switched to writing. Yep, I think we ALL should find ways to enjoy our creative side, and everyone has one. They just don’t always take the time to nurture it. Sewing is very creative, indeed. I did a lot of it when my kids were little, especially my daughter, since there were so many cute patterns for little girls. I enjoyed it, but I never loved it the same way I did painting. And now, writing. I also did a lot of needlework and crocheting, about that same time. That I liked even better.

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  3. Your work brought me back a little; they’re very reminiscent of the style my aunt uses for her crafts painting, too! Lovely work. I love painting as well, but I don’t have the patience (or attention span!) for it more often than not.

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    • When I was painting, it was just like when I’m writing. Nothing else exists for me. No trouble with patience or focus at all. In fact, I tend to stay working for hours, to the detriment of my blood circulation. Thank goodness for my Fitbit, which reminds me to get up every hour and take at least 250 steps, plus whatever it takes to meet my goal for the day. Now my ankles aren’t all swollen up by the end of the day. 😀

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    • Isn’t there an old expression that goes: They also serve who only appreciate? 😀 No? Well, there should be! If no one enjoyed art, who would painters and writers be trying to reach? I had long given up on ever being a writer, so painting was my next best idea. But now that I’ve discovered I really do have a chance to tell my stories, that’s the one I’m choosing to focus on. Glad you enjoyed seeing my earlier works, though. Thanks for taking the time to comment, too. 🙂 ❤

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    • Thanks, Mary, but I think cooking is a wonderful skill. I hate it, and do it only because we have to eat. Being a creative cook is a lovely gift to the world. Or at least to your friends and family. Don’t sell yourself short! 🙂

      I’m glad you enjoyed a peak into my previous life! 😀

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    • Aw, thanks, Staci. I sure had fun for a lotta years, back when my vision was better and my arm/shoulder didn’t bother me as much. But now I’m having fun doing something else! 😀 ❤

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  9. I used to love projects. Fixing things, building things, painting things. We owned a small horse farm for twelve years. I was in heaven. A farm ALWAYS has some projects that need to be done — the fence, the shed, paint the barn, fix the fence again (horses love to rub their butts against fence boards) put up an electric wire around the fence so they will stop rubbing their butts against it…lots and lots of projects.

    They were exciting for me; I liked creating things with my hands, or putting something to rights again that was broken. And I felt a sense of accomplishment when they were done. What went for me was my energy level. Two years ago, my brother and I painted the outside of my house. Liked to kill me!

    Now thinking about fixing or painting something just makes me feel tired. Much rather sit at my desk and punch out words, or curl up on my porch with a red pen and edit. (What I’ve been doing today.)

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    • We’ve always been DIY-ers, too, Kass. In fact, we just finished laying new flooring through our living room/dining room area. But like you, it’s beginning to get harder, and I’m a lot more tired after than I used to be. 🙂 I always forget about you and horses. Thanks for the reminder. Yes, I can see where there would ALWAYS be some kind of project involved with a horse farm. 🙂

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