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"Let each man exercise the art he knows" Aristophanes When it comes to painting, I am 76 years old newbie. I only took up a brush when I was 69 years old. Before I started painting, I created fused and kiln-formed glass artwork for a few years. I've had the good fortune to participate in a lot of art shows thanks to this medium, and I've also been recognized for my work with a few awards from other shows. It became increasingly difficult for me to maintain the physical and mental demands required for the number of shows I was doing since I worked alone and growing older. My age along with the production schedule, travel, setups, and takedowns of the displays and tents, all contributed to the decision to close my kilns and cease production. I had to look at other art forms that would be more portable and comfy because I wanted to continue being creative, so I decided to paint. The Pittsburgh PA Center for the Arts hosted my very first painting lesson which was an introduction to acrylic painting. Though I enjoyed the lesson, I didn't enjoy the weekly travel to PGH. I found my current teacher, Sue Jacobs, through local searches in my hometown of Boardman, Ohio, and have been studying with her for several years. Back then, the idea of beginning a painting terrified me the most since it was so scary to see that blank canvas. Sue helped me understand how to reduce the scene I wanted to paint and how fascinating composition enhanced the presentation and intrigue of a painting. It wasn't until I mastered color theory, shape and value, brushwork effects, emotive power, and lessons learned from mistakes that I was able to see this whole process come together into a finished painting—my painting. Mark