A gift for my mother

Artworks and story by Robin Stockitt

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I have always enjoyed the challenge of drawing and painting. Throughout my life, I have dabbled in art, but it is only since I retired in 2021 that I have been able to spend more time developing my watercolour skills. This desire was given a boost when I discovered a drawing in a box in my attic about 5 years ago, which I must have given to my mother as a small child. It depicted an old English church with a steeple and a tree beside it. The drawing has the correct proportions, it was in three dimensions, and the perspective was excellent. What astonished me was that the caption, written by my mother, said "from Robin aged 5 and 3/4." It was obvious that back then, I had a latent ability to observe and draw, which made me think, "Maybe I can draw and paint now?" The drawing gave me confidence to pursue this elusive medium of watercolor.

I am a retired Anglican minister, aged 69, living in Northern Ireland. Each Thursday morning, I attend an art club at a local church. I think I am the youngest there and many of the other folk are in their 80's. I find that inspirational. I am the only one there who uses watercolor; the others there say that watercolor is far too difficult to control. What I like about watercolor is its unpredictability, its fluidity and the combination of control and freedom. I would like to master portraits, but they scare me at the moment. I would also like to be able to capture the wildness of the Irish landscape. I hope that the Watercolor Academy course will help me achieve these goals.

Why should anyone vote for me? I suppose because I am a willing, curious learner, who is thoroughly enjoying this period of my life.