Make Art: Gerri Young, Artist at Home
Gerri Young shares how making art builds lasting friendships and encourages everyone to keep practicing their art. Gerri is past-president of the Blacksburg Regional Art Association.
Since I came to Blacksburg in 2010, I have had the time and the desire to expand my art experience and ability. Art classes became a routine part of my life and have certainly led to a broadening of my skills with different mediums. I work in watercolor, acrylics, ink and pencil, but watercolor and acrylic are the two I spend the most time on for “serious” work. Since the troubling arrival of the pandemic, my love of workshops has, unfortunately, been put on hold for the most part. However, internet and Zoom classes have become a way to learn without leaving home and I have taken a lot of them.
This year I also did a good deal of plein air painting with friends. This practice has taken me to beautiful places in the area and allowed me to meet wonderful people. I work in either watercolor and ink in journals or acrylic on canvas on these outdoor days.
Art is responsible for every friend I have in the Blacksburg! I am surrounded by talented artists, several of whom have become very good friends. Being retired has provided me with more time than ever to concentrate on art, and provided me with relationships with people I would not have met otherwise. I find it very fulfilling, a great way to get involved in the community and a way to find a deeper understanding of myself.
One thing I really learned through the classes, studio or field work is that many people who want to pursue art are very hard on themselves. Many will try a time or two and get discouraged because they think their work is not good enough. Many of them say they can’t draw. One of my instructors said “drawing is not a talent, it is a skill and skills can be taught.” If you look at one of my pieces from 5-10 years ago and compare them to my work today, you will see a huge improvement. That improvement came from not quitting even when discouraged, and from tons of practice! Fear not, with practice and effort, you will get better! Ten years ago, I would not have believed I could get accepted in the Artemis Journal (more than once), get into juried shows and even get a ribbon or two. I have would not have called myself an artist then, but I do now.