Hello Everyone, I just discovered this forum tonight and thought I'd join in. I usually just lurk but what the heck! My name is Joane (that's pronounced Joanie Not JoAnn) hahaha I live in Southern Illinois near St. Louis and I'm a recently retired bookkeeper. I've been drawing and painting all my life. I mostly like to paint but lately I'm wanting to venture out into colored pencils and just plain graphite drawings. I won't give up painting but I want to try something more challenging. I think I need more inspiration and motivation since I've been retired and I believe by joining the "weekly challenges", I will achieve this. And the added pleasure of meeting other artists since none of my friends paint or draw.

I am also starting an art class to teach basic drawing to a local Senior Citizens Hall. I have 13 people signed up and I'm not going to go into great depth with them as I am giving the lessons for free. Since most of them are on limited incomes I thought that anybody can afford paper and pencils! I can't wait to get into the gallery and see everyone's work. I've got a lot of looking to do at this site!

welcome Joane,
This is my first forum to join in also. It's been a lot of fun and I'm learning a lot. My favorites are the challenges and sketching from life. You'll like the people here.
Paulette

Hello Joane ...welcome to drawSpace .. I am sure you will find all the help you need .. feel free to ask questions .
kim

Hello Joane, welcome, great idea teaching basic drawing for free. Good luck.

Welcome to Drawspace Joane. I'm sure you'll learn a lot as you explore the site and meet the people. Do join in some of the challenges and conversations. If you have any questions, please ask and I or someone else will be happy to help.

Welcome to Drawspace Joane!!! I have tried to get my friends to try art stuff with me but I guess we are all still young and my friends are more interested in bars and such and still having a good time. So I find myself with new friends here on drawspace and enjoy drawing and showing my work to them. There are alot of great people here and I, myself couldn't ask for a better group of friends. I hope you get all you are looking for from the site. I know I have.

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. Tomorrow I am going to spend the day drawing one of the "challenge" pictures. Hopefully, I'll be able to finish it. Its a funny story, but I finally got my own little studio this year and I absolutely love going out there and doing my thing. I also do scrapbooking and altered arts out there.

I also belong to the "Wet Canvas" site and I do get some of my pictures from their gallery. But I have never sold anything so its always just for the practice. I'm looking forward to becoming more active with my art.

I quit painting and drawing for about 20 years when I was younger, I was busy raising my 2 boys. My friends admire my paintings but its not the same as discussing it with them. They really don't know what all goes into creating a piece. Its nice to know that if I have a question, I can come to the forums for an answer.

Again, thanks for the warm welcome.

welcome joane cant wait to see your work

Thanks davidb, I posted a couple of pics in my gallery.