My fascination really began with horses.  My dad is also an artist, and I would beg him to draw me pictures of my toy horses so I could watch him and learn how to make scratches on paper resemble my favorite animal.

As I grew older, I mostly sketched with pencil.  And the majority of my sketchbooks contained pictures of horses.  In my late high school years I tried my hand at cartoons of people, and sketches of dogs and cats. 

Periodically I would experiment with watercolor, oil and acrylic paint.  A good friend of mine, also an artist, introduced me to oil and chalk pastels.  I hardly touched charcoal. 

In my two years of college I took an art history and an art appreciation class.  I learned of the early artists and the works that made them famous in art history.  And in art appreciation, I learned the definitions of different terms and techniques; for example, positive space, negative space and implied lines.  I did not receive much direction, but was encouraged to demonstrate the different techniques while exercising my creativity.  It was less than satisfying.

I have learned the most about improving my art by watching other artists work, observing their own unique style and asking questions.  LOTS of questions. 

Over the past two years I think my art skills have improved.  Although pencil is still my favorite medium, I have forced myself to branch out and exercise my mind by trying different mediums that I am less comfortable with.   

I like to refer to myself as an aspiring artist, because there are SO many more talented than I.  Once in awhile I do something odd and create something that I am somewhat satisfied with!  Some say that I am too hard on myself, but I like to think of it as self improvement.  I do my best and that is alright.  But I find a way to do better next time.  There are some things I just cannot be content with.