My memories of relatives talking about painting didn’t illuminate what I desired for, in an artistic future. They said art wouldn’t earn money for survival. My closest relatives thought being an artist didn’t hold any promise or potential in a world shaped for materialistic goals. Knowledge, skills and expertise were valued over aesthetic appreciation.
When I was in school, my family told me to select the science stream.
My distant relative, an aunt, encouraged me to continue painting.
I was briefly antagonized over what to concentrate on. I believed studying science would build my future so I went with that.
My personal experiences told me I wasn’t good enough for the science stream. I felt attracted to art.
In my middle adulthood, I taught myself how to draw.
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