'My Art' by Linda Andrews
 I have always enjoyed drawing and painting. When I was 8 my sister, who was 16 years older than me, sat me down with a pencil and paper and asked me to draw a picture of a rose that she had placed in a vase before me. From then on I would draw or paint whenever I could.
The first time that I had a lesson was 21 years ago, the year before I moved to Sussex. I was a member of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Martin Mere in Lancashire and did voluntary wardening there. At the centre a wildlife artist, Don McKay (who painted pictures of animals and birds in pastel and coloured pencils) offered lessons in bird drawing, which I attended for a few weeks. He was my inspiration. He said, “I don’t ask you to have any talent. All that I ask for is your enthusiasm, and if I have that we can paint the walls of the Sistine Chapel together and I will show you how to do it".
A few weeks later he invited me to lessons in his home. I was only able to go once a week for 5 months because we had to move to the south due to my husband’s job but what I learnt stayed with me. However when my work as a counsellor and teacher developed I didn’t have time, except on holiday to paint or draw.
Since developing fibromyalgia I now have time, but often not the energy. The enthusiasm remains though. I take commissions for painting and drawings of animals, and more recently I have begun to do portraits of my granddaughter and friends. I can’t concentrate for as long as I used to, and my eyes play games with focusing and floaters, but it’s not going to stop me. I paint animals in pastel, do pictures of people in coloured pencil, and botanical in watercolour.
I get a great deal of pleasure when I have finished a painting and have somehow managed to capture some of the essence of the subject. I am fascinated by colour and I think I spend more time looking at my paints and pencils than using them, although I love the feel of them on the paper. If I produce a good piece of work then it’s a bonus.
I would encourage everyone to pick up a pencil. People say, “I can’t draw, I can’t paint”. But, you know, you could trace something and colour it in. It’s a good way to start and a great way to learn.
This was a commision for a friend who liked Dali's 'Swans Reflecting Elephants'. I took just the central portion of his picture and changed the colour. It was quite interesting to do; I used watercolour and coloured pencil.
The original Salvador Dali painting
Linda's interpretation
 
The swans and the elephants look equally good when inverted!
Linda is willing to accept commissions. Contact her by email.
 
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