I'm officially an artist.

Ha ha ha.  I've never called myself an artist.  I'm a crafter.  All my life I've enjoyed creating things and there were always craft projects ongoing. The things I've created have always been artsy... but, I never called myself an artist.

This year I've decided to take my crafty side a little more seriously and as I previously posted, I actually was fortunate enough to participate in an art exhibit in Febuary.  This was an honor.  I was one of 24 individuals exhibiting and the show was a month long show in one of our local coffee shops.  I had four pieces of collage in the show, a dog portrait called "red rascal", two Mocko Jumbie portraits; "who dat" and "Jumbie Knight", and a hand made paper palm tree landscape.  Just prior to opening night, with the show hung but not yet officially open, the shop owner informed me that the dog portrait had sold.  Woohoo!  That was exciting and so validating.  I was super excited.  Opening night itself was a thrill as many of my friends were coming to see it.  It was scary and fun at the same time.  Imagine my delight and amazement when the remaining three pieces of art sold on opening night!   I was beside myself.  OMG... somebody liked my work.  It was worth buying.  I was walking on clouds for a few days.

The people who purchased the pieces were kind enough to allow them to stay in the show for the month.  I recieved many complements from friends and was requested to do more pieces for the show.  I took them another dog portrait ; "True Love".  By show closing it had sold too.  

The positive feedback from everyone motivated me to work on some additional pieces.   I'm kind of slow, so three months later.. (its May now)... I am just ready to take these four new pieces down to the shop gallery for display and hopeful sale.  There are two dog portraits; "Big Boy" and "Party Girl",  a long piece of three mocko jumbies called "The Three of We"; and a mermaid piece titled "Follow Me".  All are charming if I do say so myself. LOL.

It was while trying to get the mermaid piece framed that I first called myself an artist.  I got a giggle out of it as a lady at the shop was thanking me for helping her with some frame design decisions and asked me "Are you an artist?".  I hesitated for only just a minute and then answered yes.

I guess I am officially an artist now. :)