July marks a couple of anniversaries with regard to my painting efforts. Ten years ago, I went to my first watercolour painting workshop at Emma Lake. I had dabbled a bit before that, but never really got into painting. It was something that I wanted to try and thought that a week long workshop would be a good way to immerse myself in it to see if painting was something I really wanted to learn and pursue.

This is a photo from that first week (predigital days). It was a great place to get away to and just focus on learning about and practicing painting. The location was lovely, people friendly, instructor (Christine Lynn) excellent, and food wonderful.

These were my first paintings. We had lots of fun experimenting with all kinds of ways to paint and went out into the forest every day. I can still remember driving home afterwards, trying to pay attention to the road, but getting distracted by all the views and thinking of how I could paint them.

I went again to Emma Lake the next year, even celebrating my birthday there. One of these days I hope to go again - September would be good, with the light and changing colours of the vegetation.

I was still working then, so painted in fits and starts. After I retired in 2003, I again painted on occasion and took a class at the University over the winter. Unfortunately, it wasn't too inspirational. That was when I decided to follow up on my dream to go to the workshop I knew about in France with Kiff Holland. Three weeks of focus on painting was what I needed to get in gear. Don't they say that it takes three weeks minimum to make any change? Well, it worked. Since then I have painted continuously, and have taken workshops and classes that I have thoroughly checked out to be sure I would really learn from them.

In 2006, my computer guru (my daughter) convinced me to set up a website for my paintings. In July of that year, Redberry Art was launched, so this month is its 5 year anniversary. She has done all the Drupal upgrades for me and fixed glitches as they have occured. I wouldn't have been able to do it without her, and her cohorts who have helped too. So nice to have a wizard behind the curtain making sure everything looks great out front!

So it seems like events happen at 5 year intervals. I wonder what this year marks the beginning for? I guess I will just have to see what unfolds.

Looking back over the past 10 years, I am so pleased that I decided to go to Emma Lake which set me on my painting path. I can remember hearing many years ago, I think on Peter Gzowski, about someone who had regretted not taking piano lessons as an adult, thinking that it probably would be wasted on him or her. It was 10 years later, and he had reflected that by now he would likely have at least been playing for his own enjoyment. That thought spurred me no only to give painting a try, but to take up piano. Seven years later I can play at a level I never imagined I could do, and I love it.

So from one who started new ventures in her 50s, all I can say is - go for it! I have my Uncle George to thank also, who always told me that anyone can learn to draw and paint, just do it for yourself and enjoy the process. Wise words.

So Happy 5th Birthday Redberry Art, and hope for many more to come!