A Beginner's Story:

At age 70, I asked Sandra if I could join Pencil Drawing College even though I was drawing stick figures. She never turns anyone away so I stayed.<br>

I was so surprised when I improved right away and one day Sandra asked if she could borrow one of my drawings to publish in a magazine. I felt like pinching myself. I couldn’t believe I had gotten that good that fast.

Soon my fame spread and I found myself being featured in magazines, on TV, in books and even walking away with TOP AWARDS. I didn’t want to charge for my art so I just started drawing people for the fun of it.

I loved the accolades but my drawing time also became a lifeline.

During my husband’s long illness, I would draw for 4-6 hours a day to disappear from the stress because I needed to be strong for my Bob!

After Bob passed, I missed him terribly, so I began to draw pictures from our courtship 62 years ago. Soon I found giggles mingling with my tears, and the drawings softened my grief.

Imagine my surprise when a prestigious art center chose me out of 3 million people in my county to display 90 portraits for my 90th birthday.  

I’m 92 now and I still draw almost every day and still take critiques on my art from Sandra. Drawing keeps my brain active and vibrant, it’s sort of like aerobics for my brain.

~ Nita, Rancho Bernardo, California