A Milestone on the Journey

I began this blog on March 4, 2016 — yes, my blog’s anniversary is coming up soon — and to this day, I still don’t know what possessed me to do such a thing. I certainly wasn’t wanting to show off my art work. I was struggling to learn the basic elements of drawing and had just started using color in my work.

Maybe what I was looking for was someone to share my experience with. As an aspiring artist, teaching myself to draw in the quiet corners of my room, I had no contact with or connection to other artists. I had nowhere to go with questions, and — other than family and a few close friends — no one to note the progress I made. It was, in many ways, a lonesome journey.

When I posted this first drawing, I didn’t expect much to come from it. No one would see it, I told myself, but my blog would be here as a visual record of my learning experience. Here I could express my thoughts about art, post the good, the bad, and the horribly ugly pictures I created, and — in the event someone did choose to read the blog — perhaps my determination alone might inspire another aspiring artist.

“Bowl of Apples” – Colored Pencil Drawing by Judith Kraus. This was the first drawing I posted on “Artistcoveries”

A surprising thing happened. Within a few months, Artistcoveries was gaining readers. I received comments from artists around the world, encouraging me to keep going, offering suggestions on books to read or techniques to try. I heard, too, from many students, aspiring artists like me who said, yes, my blog had inspired them.

As I watched my list of followers increase, I formed an ambitious hope. I wanted to have 500 followers before the blog’s first anniversary. It seemed impossible, but today — still weeks before the celebration — I hit that milestone.

In honor of the occasion, I quickly sketched a marker. Mile markers on ancient roads were originally built from stones, and since I happen to love drawing rocks, I was excited to create my own milestone.

Thank you to each of you who have chosen to follow me on this journey. I hope it will continue to inspire and that my efforts may encourage others to travel the exciting, rewarding pathways art offers.