Of course, they have an ancient feel - I'm ancient! (60) lol My problem is I have "museum" taste and a "welfare" budget. I just do the best I can with what I got!

If I want a "masterpiece", I make it. I find a picture of something I like. It is amazing what you can do with a clear piece of plastic marked like graph paper, and making a big grid on your "canvas". It's just "where does the line enter and leave this box?" and "how does it curve in the box?". That simple! Just consider one box at a time- don't worry about the whole thing. If you get each box right, the whole picture will be perfect! From there on, it's no different than painting in the colors in a coloring book.

When you do it that way, it's EASY to be a "great artist". It really blows your friends' minds when you point out YOUR painting on the wall!

For example-I'm just starting out on what will be a 3 foot long redwood dragon. It's a printout from yahoo images. I'll grid it out on butcher paper. Then cut it out and tape it to the wood. I'll get a pencil and an exacto. After cutting through the paper where my lines are I'll go over the cuts with the pencil. Then I get out the dremmel and start carving. Everywhere I need to cut is marked. Painting is easier than 3-D work, but the idea is the same.

So, go be a great artist! Make something! - Granny