In Which Teresa W. Learns to Use Microsoft Paint....

I have been trying to draw lately.  I mean like pictures, some would call it art.  Well, I wouldn't call what I'VE been doing art exactly BUT I have been having fun!

I have been using a computer for several years, at least ten but I've never really explored all the programs that come with the standard operating system.  In fact, when my computer quits working, I have no clue what to do so I call my brother, the computer expert!

But, once again, I digress....

I am not sure whose idea it was [or whose 'fault' if you prefer] but someone in Gather Land was using Microsoft Paint to draw pretty and colorful pictures.  It may have been Susan L.; or Frances Virginia; or even Joey who is one with the gatherverse and his new group drawthis.gather.com where you draw something every week.  It may have been a combination of all of them that gave me the idea to use Microsoft Paint!  PLUS, I've been looking at old drawings that I did of horses when I was a teenager and thinking, "Hey, I think I want to draw some pictures of horses again!"   Several gather people and my darling daughter have also encouraged me to start drawing again too.  Thank you for that, BTW!!! 

So that's my inspiration!  I like horses.  I used to draw horses.  I want to draw horses again.  Why not draw horses using Microsoft Paint?  Huh!  What a great idea!!

You know what I found out?  Using Microsoft Paint is FUN!!  BUT, it's a lot like an Etch-A-Sketch toy that kids draw on and then shake and it erases everything and you start with a clean slate each time!  Microsoft Paint is also a little like a coloring book but you get to draw the picture AND then to color it too!  It's very cool and very relaxing!    It's also kind of hard.

So I started drawing horses and some flowers.   The flowers were for this weeks challenge theme for the group Draw This.  But the first flower I did, while I love the colors, is just a silly flower.  I wasn't completely happy with it.  Then I decided to draw a little horse head and make that the center of the flower and then petals around the horse head.  I call it my 'horse flower.'  It's bright, cheerful, silly and it was fun to draw and paint!  Now, THAT one I like, just for the sheer silly cheery fun-ness of it!

First flower & 'Horse Flower'

I know that my drawings of horses are technically 'off.'  Horses don't really look like what I've been drawing.  But you know what?  It's HARD to curve lines and actually draw anything exact using Microsoft Paint.  Especially with my mouse which I believe needs to be replaced!

BUT, I CAN draw horses that are silly and fun!  I find 'real life' very difficult to handle a great deal of the time and cheery, silly and fun horses make me feel cheery, silly and fun!  Which makes me feel good!  And that leads me to a more positive outlook on life!  Gather helps with that too, by the way!  :-)  AND all that is a GOOD THING!!

I am using my computer to draw pictures that make me feel good and they make me happy.  It's ok if my pictures aren't perfect and won't ever hang in any art museum.  As long as they make me smile, sometimes both inside as well as outside, then I'm using my computer art as a form of happy therapy!

Here is the last horse that I drew.  I think he turned out really well and looks very proud and happy.  I like looking at him.  I call him 'Proud Horse.'