Strike!!!!!!!!

Sometimes the best way to really get your creative juices flowing is to challenge yourself with something new. Whether that comes in the form of a new medium (I’ve been dying to try glass blowing) or by switching up the regular process. I share this because I want to tell the following story.

My Dad’s side of the family owns a bowling alley in Live Oak. Live Oak is this really small town and the bowling alley there is the only one in a 60-mile radius. I worked there over the summer and loved it. The people were ultra friendly and particularly talkative with the new girl. Besides that, I loved getting to know our regulars. This is the sort of the thing that can never happen in the suburbs. We just mass-produce everything. I can think of three bowling alleys that really aren’t far from my house, maybe ten minutes each. I can drive to multiple Publix, Walgreens, etc. Not in Live Oak, you never have two of the same chain. Normally it is one chain store and a Mom n’ Pop store of the same kind to choose from. I loved it for that month but realized the pace of a bigger city is needed.

In my boredom my Aunt did give me an interesting idea. Take the bowling pins that are beat up and paint them. She gave me three of them. Well, they have rolled around in my trunk for some time. For Christmas my bible study decided to do a white elephant exchange. I was at a loss as to what to bring. I was not supposed to spend more than $5 but free was more desirable. I left it until last minute as per usual and I only had fifteen minutes before the exchange. It dawned on me, I still have a bowling pin. So, I wrapped it. Lo and behold it was on of two gifts to actually be stolen! I told the final winner I would paint it. He gave me no direction, but three months later I finally did something with it. You will see the results bellow.










This is the sort of things that makes me love art. That you can take some ordinary object and make it extraordinary with the swipe of a brush. I’m thinking of buying some more pins and painting them. I may even sell them. Although first I must obtain a few more pins.