Art Lovers discussion

I'm fairly sure all of us at one time or another have met a person who has asked us about our likes, our passions, what we do with our spare time, what our interests are, etc.

So if someone whom you don't know very well on a personal level just asked you that in a casual conversation, how would you respond? I would think that most or all of us would include art as one of our passions...

What would you say?

I just came across this question that I posted three years ago and it seems nobody had an answer they wanted to share. This is more for us to get to know one another and of course, again it is your choice whether you would like to answer now.

Again, If someone came up to you, trying to get to know you in a casual conversation and asked you what you like to do, what are your passions, what do you do in your spare time, etc. How would you respond?

I'm in my late sixties and retired, so my time is filled by reading and researching the political assassinations that have occurred in my lifetime. These are mainly American; JFK, MLK, RFK, but I have also been drawn into many others. I write articles and give presentations for a U.K. group of authors and researchers; Dealey Plaza U.K.
I have always had guitars, mainly acoustic.
I also dabble in paints; watercolour and oils.
Recently I acquired a motorhome (R.V.) so I travel around the British Isles.
I have long had an astronomical telescope (Celestron 8").
My main problem now I no longer work, is having the time to service all my hobbies and interests!

Great answer, Pete! Nice to hear from you and even get to know a little more about you. Thanks for getting us started.

I’m Heather, which I’m sure you all know me, even if you didn’t want to, you’re In the group! Haha
I’m in my mid 40s. Like most or all of us here i like to read. I read a lot of neuroscience and art mostly, Some religion.
I live in northern Utah, not really by choice and when I have the money I’ll be trying to get my way back to my Tennessee home. The only family have around here is my mom who lives with her husband about an hour south of me. My dad passed away several years ago, it was a turning point in my life and one reason I’m out here. That’s a different story.
I love music more than anything, not only playing the piano but I like listening to it and seeing live bands. I enjoy learning new tunes from others.
I have a cat, she’s my best friend. 🐾

I love reading classics and romance and some nonfiction too
and I love art too .. reading about it and learning about it.
And at the moment am very much into learning about different philosophies of education....Waldorf with its art based and story based education and Montessori with its practical skills based education and Charlotte Mason with her living books is holding my attention..

So..thats that.

“That’s that” very nicely said. Thank you for letting us know what you’re into these days! You have a variety of interests catching your attention. And it all sounds interesting to me.

Hello yet and once again everyone who has been with us longer than 6 months, and for you who have joined us since then, this may be the first time you've read this thread. I am really interested in this question (as you can see, this is my third time asking it).

So, the first time I asked, nobody responded, and that's OKAY! This group is all FOR YOU and whatever you want to do or not do in it!
The next time I asked, we had a few responses which were different than I had expected because very little was said about art. And that is one reason I would like to ask this question again. Here, I will outline my reasoning for asking this question, just so you know:
Question: If someone came up to you, trying to get to know you in a casual conversation and asked you what you like to do, what are your passions, what do you do in your spare time, etc. How would you respond?

I ask this...
*To get to know you better
*Because I get asked this exact question quite a bit! and I feel at a loss for words sometimes because I don't really like the usual things that a lot of other people like. So since we all do appreciate art, I hoped to get some ideas on what to say from you
*Also, I liked that I initially asked about art because that's what this group is about, yet hardly anyone spoke about art in their interests. So I'd like to know what other interests are out there!
*Maybe some newer members will come out of the shadows and we can meet you!

Okay, go! Let's hope to hear from you!

Hi Heather,
Although I’m trained in painting and drawing, and dabbled in ceramics and jewelry making, my main interests are fiber art and digital art. I like painting on silk and watch the dye run, or tie-dye the fabric using the Shibori technique. As far as digital art, I go crazy with taking pictures with my phone then digitally manipulate the pictures for fun.

My demanding job and second career is reviewing contracts so I don’t get to do those things often. I do try to draw everyday in my iPad Pro using the Procreate program.

Aloha wrote: "Hi Heather,
Although I’m trained in painting and drawing, and dabbled in ceramics and jewelry making, my main interests are fiber art and digital art. I like painting on silk and watch the dye run,..."

Those are some really fun things, Aloha! I remember, and it has been several years, but you are the one who introduced me to that book Inkblot: Drip, Splat, and Squish Your Way to Creativity and it looked fun so I bought it along with the dyes. It was fun! Something I could do that didn't take any talent, really. It was all pure luck, or chance, how it would turn out. I thought that was kind of creative.

But the things you named seem really fun! I would love to know how to digitally manipulate pictures. I love taking pictures anyway, though I've never been trained in photography, so I think it would be fun to see what I could do with whatever I took pictures of. Random things that wouldn't otherwise be interesting. And I love doing collages, so I'd do something like that with my photos. I looked into getting Photoshop but it's crazy expensive! So I didn't invest in that. Maybe someday, that is on my bucket list to try someday.

I've never heard of the Shibori technique. I'll have to look that up. I know what tie-dye looks like, but I'll have to see what makes it different with that technique. Is it difficult to do? I'd be interested to see something that you've done with your silk painting and the dye that runs. In fact, do you have any of your work that you would feel okay to share? You could post it in the Talent of the Members thread...I'm intriqued!

Thank you for sharing those things that you do! It's nice to get to know that about you. And it's nice to hear from you again! I hope you are doing well these days.

Honestly, it’s a great question to me. I’m quite the private person and I don’t feel that I really have interesting/compelling passions, so if the person asking is someone I don’t know well I feel extra embarrassed. I usually say I like reading because that’s about it.

L'aura wrote: "Honestly, it’s a great question to me. I’m quite the private person and I don’t feel that I really have interesting/compelling passions, so if the person asking is someone I don’t know well I feel ..."

It's interesting that you's say that, L'aura. It is a good question but if I don't know the person well, I don't necessarily get embarrassed, I just don't know what to say! That is generally the whole reason why I asked this question to this group. I say that exact thing. "I like to read..." yep. That's about it. I say what I read about and don't know what else to say.
But I want to say one thing, I don't thing anyone doesn't have "interesting" passions. I'm sure there is something you do that is interesting to someone else. Maybe not everyone else, but nobody is not interesting, and that includes you! BUT, I can see how you would feel that way to someone you don't know very well and it would be hard to come up with something right there on the spot.
Thank you for your comment, it's nice to hear from you!

Heather wrote: "L'aura wrote: "Honestly, it’s a great question to me. I’m quite the private person and I don’t feel that I really have interesting/compelling passions, so if the person asking is someone I don’t kn..."

Yes I agree with this a 100% ,Heather...

"I'm sure there is something you do that is interesting to someone else. Maybe not everyone else, but nobody is not interesting, and that includes you!"

Don't feel so L'aura.


Well artwise..I love color..and am exploring acrilycs , watercolor , oil pastel and charcoal..soft pastel too and pen and ink..and trying out the different genres of art.... only been so brave to try it all out since last year and a half..and its been good since.

That’s awesome that you are trying all those things out! I know you mentioned several times in other threads about art in different paintings how you enjoy color so I think it’s neat how you are going to dive into it yourself. Way to go!