Kathy’s Journey: Finding Joy and Growth Through Art
After retiring in 2016, Kathy found herself searching for something that would keep her mind active and her time well spent. “I wanted something that would stimulate my brain and allow me to use my time productively,” she shared. Though she had taught elementary school art and music and taken a few classes over the years, she had never seriously pursued art for herself.
That changed when she came across ART+Academy. “The website caught my interest because the teaching approach matched my ideas of how people learn. The tone was so positive and encouraging… the rest is history, as they say.”
Kathy began with a basic understanding of art concepts, but little experience in translating knowledge into finished work. Her early self-portraits showed potential but lacked polish—until she began working closely with her instructor. “I was impressed with the improvement from my initial self-portrait to my second one after instruction,” she recalls. “I didn’t think the self-portrait was good, but as I continued, I was pleasantly pleased with the way things were working out.”
She started with pencil, then moved into pen and ink—something she never expected to enjoy. “No erasers! But I was pleasantly surprised that my pen and ink drawings were actually good.” From there, Kathy explored soft pastels, colored pencils, and acrylics, but found her favorite in watercolor. Her first watercolor painting—a lionfish—remains a personal favorite and a family treasure.
“Planning a picture and taking it to the final version gives me a sense of accomplishment,” Kathy says. “There is always a time with every picture when I feel like I should just start over or give up, but working through the difficulties keeps my brain sharp. Thinking of how to work out the colors and values, perspective, layout, and design are great mental aerobics.”
Beyond developing her technical skills, Kathy found something even more meaningful: community. “My classmates have become my friends. We help each other with art but also share our family and life experiences. This sense of community, friendship, and support is difficult to find and maintain in adulthood. It is a valuable component of my life. In fact, my art classes are the highlight of my week.”
From a curious beginner to a confident watercolor artist, Kathy’s journey reminds us that it’s never too late to learn, grow, and find joy in creative expression. We’re honored to be part of her continued journey.
