After raising a family with my husband and working as a registered nurse for 40+ years, I decided to take some drawing classes to see if I could still draw after a lifetime of not using that skill. Drawing classes confirmed I still had the "stuff", so then I took some instruction in oil and pastel with an artist friend. Pastels were so much fun to use that I continued in that medium, entering some art competitions at the suggestion of my art friends. Surprisingly, some of my art was juried into local and regional exhibits and my kids started asking why I had never painted all the time they were growing up. My only answer was that I didn't have the time to use that part of my brain! I am still surprised myself at the images that emerge from the paper, seemingly on their own volition at times. It has been a wonderful ride finding this hidden gift in me at this stage in my life. It has provided much joy and satisfaction for me, and I hope for those who view my art as well.