Guess Who Got 3rd Place in the Summer Elkhart Art League Show?

The Elkhart Art League is over 85 years old now. It opened up in Elkhart in 1925, when local artists wanted to have a place to get together, to share their art. They started meeting in different places, and eventually ended up near the High Dive Park. I love the Elkhart Art League in spite of the pathetic little building that we have to meet in. Thanks to the Elkhart Parks Department or we wouldn't even have this building to meet in. We have to pay our own utilities and we pay rent. Our rent was raised from $1.00 a year to a staggering $5.00 a year. I know we are very lucky and grateful to them or we wouldn't have any place to meet. They also make sure that our parking lots are cleaned and the lawns are maintained.

The Elkhart Art League is strictly self-supporting. We offer classes, and art shows. We also have different workshops and speakers, several times a year. We have had an internationally known artist teach at the Elkhart Art League. I was one of the fortunate ones to have studied under Steve Blackburn. He has even given watercolor workshops in different countries. He has been written up in, The Best of Watercolor. He won an international award. He has also won many other awards locally and all around the country.

The Midwest Museum also supports the Elkhart Art League and has had many of our artists exhibit, be accepted, and win awards in their regional art shows. I need to brag a little on myself. I also was one that won a regional award at the Midwest Museum of American Art. If you ever want to get a little more art culture you must get involved with the Midwest Museum.

This is a long way around telling you that I won 3rd place in the Elkhart Art League Summer Art Show. I was surprised. I always want to support the Art League, and stress that my students should put something in the show to become involved in the art community. It is not just a great experience, but it is a lot of fun to hear what people say about your art. I remember the first art show at the Elkhart Art League that I entered as a student. I felt such pride when I overheard an observer say to someone that he was with, that the person that painted this painting has real talent. It was my painting, and I didn't know who he was. It was nice to hear such a compliment from a stranger.

I have never won, "Best of Show," or even first place. I have won quite a few awards though and I love it. I love art that is. I love talking art, and sharing with other artists. It is important not to be into it just to win, or to be the best. I frankly do not do it to win. I do it because I love it, and winning is icing on the cake. I also know that each judge has different tastes. A lot of it depends on the judge and what they like. I have heard judges, myself included, say that on a different day, they may choose something different than they did on the day of the judging.

That being said, I am glad that I won an award. I am glad that I was able to socialize with my artist friends and I am glad that I am not all about competition. I love to see my friends and others win. I know that it feels good. It feels good when others are happy for you too. I believe that art is a God given talent. It is also takes a lot of practice and time.

I think that many artists, like everyone else, have had a lot of pain and tragedy in their lives. I can think of several of them as I write this, including myself. I will not name them because their pain is very personal. Maybe it makes them better artists or maybe it is because they are very sensitive and have that sensitivity in their genes. I just know that I am honored to be a part of my art community and tonight I feel very happy, proud, and content. I know that my dad is proud of me too. He has been gone now for just over a month. He has always been one of my biggest fans.

I will post photos from the show, and photos of some of the paintings from the art show later.