I think that I have always been creative. I think that God gives each person born some degree of creativity. Unfortunately, sometimes we do not pursue that in our lives, and it grows stale. But I also believe that when we become His Children by Salvation, He wants us to Walk in Fullness with Him. I think that when we accept Him, he then gives us Talents and Gifts that complement the creativity tha
t we were born with. Many times, when I was younger people would say you have talent, but you need to get a real job to make a living. That is good but it also put a limit on my creativity and limited my freedom to follow my dreams that I do believe God put in my heart. Now at 70, I really have a desire to use my talents for His Glory. I would love to be able to make multiple missions trips each year that are actually paid for by my art. Artistic ability ran in my family, my grandfather, my mother, and her sister all painted. I would watch my grandfather paint when I got to visit him, he would be using his oil paint and he would give me some pastels or watercolors. They were not quite as messy as oils would be for a child. I grew up in San Angelo, Texas where Kendall Art Gallery is located. At that time, the gallery had a program for young artists. We had to be recommended by a teacher then we had to make a tryout piece. I was accepted into the program. That was the highlight of my childhood. I loved the program and walked to the gallery every week to participate. We were introduced to many types of art, oil painting, watercolors, pastels, stone carving, pottery on a wheel, stained glass, papier mache, mosaics and a few other too. I enjoyed all the different forms but was always drawn to anything with canvas. There were several art shows while I was in the program. I even won 1st place for a papier mache swan that I made. The winners had their items displayed at the public library. They asked to keep my swan and used it in several window displays. Then life happens, unfortunately we are not always encouraged to follow our dreams. After I married, my 1st husband was in the Air Force, we were stationed in the Azores, Portugal. I was in my mid 20’s by then, but I did not work while we were stationed there. I started going to the ART HUT Where Senoir Maduro Dias taught art. He required that everyone that came to the Art Hut start with the basics of all art: Perspective, Composition, shadowing, color theory, etc. After I was there maybe four or five months Senoir Dias asked me to teach the basics to some of the new “students” and if he was not going to be able to be there on any day, he asked me to stand in for him if someone need help. We also put on two art shows a year that I participate in. After returning to the States life got in the way of art for the most part. I never completely gave up on art and would sometimes have to paint something. At the end of 2019 I just felt I needed to paint. So, I picked up some watercolors, dug out my oil paints, pastels and even picked up acrylics. By using all these mediums, I can adapt what I am using to the time that I can devote to art that day. Last year I participated in the “Cotton Festival Art Show” in Eclectic, Al., the theme was Heroes of 2020. I won 1st and 2nd place in that show. It was a blessing to be recognized for something that I enjoy so much. Now I just need to figure out what art will sell. I have also recently joined the ECAG and The Kelly and look forward to being able to participate in their activities. In Service to Christ,
Marty Woodall
