Donating Art Supplies

Had a vivid dream the other night where I was going through my room, gathering up old art supplies I haven't used in years, compiling them together, and then donating them. I woke up and thought, "Well that was a pretty clear message." So part of my spring cleaning right now is going through old art stuff -paint brushes, paint, and markers -and then trying to figure out who to donate it to. 

I found a non-profit called PlatteForum (which is clever because it's near Platte River and plays on the phrase Platform and the use of Forum). This non-profit, in their own words:

Is an award-winning and innovative arts, youth-development, and artist-in-residence program in Denver that teams underserved urban youth (K-12) with contemporary master artists in intensive, structured, and long-term creative learning environments. Youth work side by side with resident artists to collaboratively plan, produce, and exhibit a body of work in an environment in which artistic excellence is highly valued. Youth in PlatteForum’s programs delve into a variety of art forms, confronting challenges and obstacles and making life-changing discoveries about who they are, what they are capable of achieving, and where they belong in the world.

I will be contributing a large tub and maybe more. 

The frustrating thing that's also coming up right now is some relatives on Facebook keep bringing up my past artwork. They say, "why haven't you posted a new painting in a while -don't forget it's your first love..." They act like me going Graphic Design or changing my artistic style will mean I let go of the kind of artwork I've done in the past. 

I tried to explain, Drawing has been the most consistent form of artwork. Outside of that I've delved in many mediums and work has continued to evolve. 

I did watercolor from age 15 to 18 -then briefly took an Acrylic painting class in college. 

I did collage work from age 17 to 22 -then pretty much gave it up because the work is so tedious. 

Graphic Design since age 21 to present (including computer art). 

"Ink design" from age 23 to 28 now. 

So in the grand scheme of things, although some relatives have seen me paint a lot while I was young and in high school -I don't anymore and haven't for years. 

Then another relative basically called me out on Facebook and told me I needed to make a painting for the first relative that complained. I told that person point-blank, "I don't paint anymore. I'll try to create something else for them."

It sucks when people you're related to think they know you, but are so out of touch the only they they can refer to you on i the edfault past memories they had. 

It's like saying, "Oh you must eat lots of strawberry ice cream -I'm surprised you don't go on a diet..." because someone you knew ate strawberry ice cream a lot as a kid, but hasn't for about 5 years now.