Tole Painting Adventures in Alaska

By Judy Farnham

After many years, I am still a member of the National Society of Decorative Painters and support them by attending the conventions. I took a look at the pictures of my creations and asked myself what I should do with them. It was at this time that I decided to share them in a book with others. I hope this book inspires you to enjoy painting as much as I do.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543454659

Judy Farnham

My love of painting started in about 1970 after I attended a local street fair. I still have the little oil can that inspired me to paint. I took lessons locally, joined the Society of Decorative Painters, and finally was able to attend the conventions. Thats when I started learning. I was born in the Southwest in Bakersfield, California, on a farm and ranch. We raised cotton, cattle, horses, and sheep the sheep were projects of my brother and me.

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 by Judy Farnham. 761650

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017915067

ISBN:   Softcover     978-1-5434-5464-2

             Hardcover   978-1-5434-5463-5

             EBook           978-1-5434-5465-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 01/27/2018

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Contents

The California Poppy

Just Another Poppy…

The Alaskan Forget-Me-Not

Springtime Is For The Birds

Saw Whet Owl

Tooled Faux Leather Picture Frame

The Wild Alaskan Iris

The Mexican Poinsettia

The Sunflower Adirondack Chair

The Red Rose

Tips To Make Your Life Easier

Tole Terms Used In This Book

About Me…

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My love of painting started in about 1970 after I attended a local street fair. I still have the little oil can that inspired me to paint. I took lessons locally, joined the Society of Decorative Painters, and finally was able to attend the conventions. That’s when I started learning.

I was born in the Southwest in Bakersfield, California, on a farm and ranch. We raised cotton, cattle, horses, and sheep – the sheep were projects of my brother and me.

I went on to graduate from California State Polytechnic College in San Luis Obispo where I majored in Home Economics and minored in Math. This was at a time when I was questioned by some male students and a teacher as to why I, a female, was taking math. I had lots of reasons.

My college roommate, Candi, and I were offered teaching jobs in Palm Desert, as though Bakersfield wasn’t hot enough. Palm Desert was 20° hotter. Candi and I have remained good friends to this day, I’m happy to say. I stayed there for three years, then moved to the Seattle area where I taught and learned to paint. I started out with just five brushes for several years, and only a few acrylics were available at that time. I couldn’t afford more and take lessons too. I now have about 100 brushes (probably more), but I need them all and 400 paints. It’s a disease.

After a trip to Fairbanks, Alaska, in the 80’s to visit my aunt and uncle, I met my future husband, and we eventually moved to Nenana, Alaska, an Athabaskan village and home of the dog sleds. I taught school and painting. (Yes, I taught math all along too.) Working and living amongst the Natives was the highlight of my career. I learned to sew fur caps, mittens, and mukluks, drive snow machines and even drive a dog sled.

Eventually, I moved to Fairbanks where I retired from teaching the gifted. Having lived in Alaska for 26 years I now work as a substitute teacher in the middle and high schools – and paint, paint, paint whenever I have a chance. I have one son, James, who loves living in Alaska. He once told me he never wants to take a vacation out of state and he has lived up to that. He has to put up with my painting, especially putting this book together. We argue over our personal territory in the garage where I do some of my wood working and he stores his auto parts. He’s winning.

It wasn’t