Hello Everyone. I'm new to the group and new to calling myself an artist. It's taken a lifetime for me to finally prioritise and value being creative. Discouraged by everyone as a teenager, I gave up drawing entirely and took up a career in banking. Resurrecting my love for art fell to the bottom of a massive "to do" list and never got a chance. Through a mixture of happy and sad life changes, I finally found the time and motivation to get started again in 2020. I kept it secret at first, and didn't show anyone what I was doing. Once I did, I got commissions and did a few pieces. Then one nightmare "customer" gave cruel comments and refused to pay for the portrait I'd done for him. It really got to me and I stopped drawing again, for another 2 years. But now I'm back, and this time I'm not letting anyone stop me. It's taken 60 years for me to find the time, the space and most of all the courage. That is far too long, but still better late than never. I can't wait to see what everyone is up to in this group, and to hear about your journeys. As a gesture of faith I'm sharing the portrait that the unhappy client rejected. If I can share that, I can share anything!!! Here goes......