This was my first painting using "real" paints (oils in this case), with a lot of patient teaching from my Grandma Wynes, who was a professional oil painter. (Technically not my grandma -- she was my aunt's husband's mom -- but I always knew her as Grandma Wynes.) I made it as a gift to my mom when I was nine.

Grandma Wynes helped me pick an image to use for reference. I chose the cover of a favorite book called “Flutterby” because I loved the illustrations from that book and because my mom collected unicorns and Pegasus(es?) and I thought she'd like it. She showed me how to trace the image, then transfer it onto the painting surface. She taught me how to prep a canvas, mix colors, and use different brushes.

For an hour or so a few times a week, we'd practice a new brush stroke over and over until I was ready to try it on my picture. Grandma Wynes encouraged me to look at my work with a critical eye each time I came back to it and see what I needed to improve. I took some liberties with the mane and tail. She had to help me get the pink to the right tint and shade. And she feathered out my first attempt at clouds when I got too much paint on my brush.

When it was finally finished (with her help adding a unicorn horn), she told me to sign my name proudly and helped me pick out the frame at the local Ben Franklin. I wrote a message to my mom on the back, then wrapped it up in rainbow striped paper and gave it to her at the end of the summer.

Grandma Wynes was one of many people who took the time to share their passion with me just for the love of doing it. From her and others like her, I learned early on about the value of creativity and the patience to keep getting better at something. Whether you're a professional at the thing you're passionate about or not, you have a tremendous effect on the people around you when you share it with them. You might just be someone's Grandma Wynes.

#worksoftheearlyartist #shareyourpassions #besomeonesgrandmawynes #WishmoonStudio #theearlyyears