I would have to say that my first real experience with art came when I was about eight years old. That was when my grandma gave me my first set of pastels and a bunch of paper bags from the local grocery store and I started to practice with them until she felt I was good enough to graduate to hard paper. For the next few years I stayed with paper, and still mess around with it sometimes, I only use canvass for the serious stuff when Im using chalk or paint. I also like to sketch and use charcoal as well as write poetry and short stories. Although I have alot of ideas for what could hopefully one day turn into several books, I am either having to much fun painting, or maybe Im just not ready yet. I would have to say, the best thing that I like about painting is, that youget to be heard. Whether its on the internet, a local show,or maybe just by friends, all of your passion whether its hate or love is out there, and they can say if they liked it or not, but its too late. They saw it, and now its out there.