Mother.
Wife.
Interior designer.
Equestrian.
Trail runner.
Woman.
These are all titles that have been easy for me to claim. Some come with respect. Others are adventurous.
But I always had a hard time telling people I was an artist.
I spent my grade school years holed up in my room sketching or using a little green desk my parents had picked up somewhere with my pencils and books. Art was my favorite class through middle and high school. I went to college with an art scholarship and graduated with a B.S. in oil painting.
And I still didn’t announce to people that that is what I did.
Why?
Mostly because it was met with apathy or a raised eyebrow. People would mention “so-and-so who starved/was lazy/was weird” who they knew. I even had one lady chortle, “Well, that’s useful.” It was easiest to avoid the subject altogether.
It wasn’t until last year while I attended a photography workshop that I decided I would introduce myself as Tawna Allred: Artist.
As small as it seemed, it was a big moment for me. I was finally walking gently (and nervously) into myself after 38 years.
I created this site to celebrate my creativity and to share what I learn along the way. Blogs may be past their prime, but I will continue to use the platform as my center. It’s going to be a place where I clarify ideas. I have notebooks and sketchbooks that I use daily, but I also like to work through ideas digitally. The subjects I talk about here could range from poetry to the latest painting and everything in between. Whatever happens, it’s my way of honoring imagination.
I’m so glad you found me.
I can’t wait to share this journey with you.
xoxo,
Tawna Allred; Artist
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