Welcome to: 1000 Words Behind the Pictures
By: Lynda Wallis
Tags: Drawing, Creativity, History, Women Entrepreneurs, Art

Art is a form of visual storytelling. Good art, in my opinion, stands on it’s own. Good art transcends time, place, era, historical context, it doesn’t or shouldn’t need a long written explanation. It’s true, a well written or delivered explanation of art can enhance the joy or understanding of a piece, but I really believe good art should to stand on it’s own — without convoluted word salads to help.

I’ve been fortunate to be a freelance artist, illustrator and maker my entire career. I’m proud to have supported my small family, me and my two children, as a single working mother in my chosen profession as an artist. Being a freelance artist for a living is not for the feint of heart, but I did it, and continue to do it.

We never had much money, single mothers seldom if ever do. What we did have was the joy of each other, my kids and I; we raised each other. Being self-employed and working from home allowed me to raise my children, not someone or a team of others at a daycare, not that there is anything wrong with that for those women who have no other options but to make that choice. My children learned before they could talk or walk that to touch the art was to die. They learned quickly.

We had an amazing quality of life — without most of the norms other two parent households, no one to stay home and watch the kids while the other ran out to get groceries or do errands, no one else to put the kids to bed if the other was not feeling well, no one else to go pick the kids up or take them somewhere else, no Nintendo, no Game Box, no big screen tvs, or annual exotic vacations — though I always managed to take trips with my kids every year.

I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Though I did think on occasion how nice it would have been to have had a wife or a partner to help manage the full-time job of running and managing a house. I didn’t and the three of us were fine. I’ve raised two of the smartest, strongest, most compassionate, emotionally healthy humans I know. We’re a tightly bonded unit. Both my children are grown, doing quite well, thank you, have each made excellent choices in their partners.

All this to preface why I took on some of the seemingly crazy freelance projects I was hired to do. I needed to earn every penny I possibly could. We were so poor that I used to know to the dime how much money I could scrap out of the drink holders in my car and what could be dug our of the couch cushions each week. I pawned every single piece of jewelry I owned with the slightest hint of value to be sure to have enough to buy groceries every month. I never missed or was late on a mortgage payment — ever.

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I have been working as a freelance artist for over 30 years and will continue to do so until someone needs to pry my favorite #2 yellow Ticonderoga pencil from my cold dead hands.

I’m overflowing with stories of stuff I’ve had the privilege to draw and make over the decades. This publication is where I’ll share many of those stories — and the pictures, maps or things I was honored to create. I hope these stories will take you out of yourself for a time and immerse you in some behind-the scenes things you may never have considered, or in this case;

1000 words behind the pictures.

I’m really glad you’re here.

Welcome to the journey.

Enjoy the ride.