Hi, My name is Krystal-Howard Drohan. I am a married, 31 yr old mother of three. I was born and raised in Georgetown, South Carolina. A southern state on the east coast of the U.S. I have never been to art school, or had any formal training in the arts. Aside from a few lessons on painting with acrylics, I am self taught.
I don't think I really appreciated my talent until I got older. Drawing was just something I was better at than most and that was it. . I was also never quite as confident in my ability as others seemed to be. I didn't usually draw too often, mostly when I was bored or if the mood struck me.
My mom had high hopes for me and my talents. She just knew I was going to be a famous artist one day. At the rate I was going it didn't seem likely. I was young and had other things on my mind, as most of us do at that age.
My mom passed away due to complications of diabetes in 1995. An illness she had fought many years. I was 19 years old and 7 months pregnant. I was devastated. My mother was my best friend and my driving force. I didn't know what was going to happen to me without her. I went years without really drawing or painting anything.
Then out of the blue I wanted to paint. I had a friend ,who had a friend, who was an artist around town. She asked if he would mind giving me a few lessons on painting. Proper technique and all. I had a few lessons with him in painting with acrylics. Freshened up on the basic techniques ; ie compositsion, shadows and light, etc. As well as using acrylic paints and mediums. He also taught me how to stretch my own canvases. That was six years ago . I only had a few sessions with him , but I soaked it all in and I haven't stopped painting since.
I have just picked up oils again. My mom had bought me oils when I was a teen, but I didn't like them because they took to long to dry. LOL Now that I feel I have familarized myself with painting through the acrylics I am trying my hand at them again. I have had no lessons on oil paints so I am clueless. I know nothing about glazing, underpainting , or mediums used with oil paints. But I am enjoying using them, and I am learning as I go. :)
I hope you enjoy your visit to my site.
