Japanese Snow Monkey Mama with Baby – lovely scene, isn’t it? I did this one, next month it’ll be 3 years! Like I said I could not resist when I first saw them almost feeling the tender loving care and I tried to capture as much as I could and here it is in Scratch Board Art.

My own experience has shown me that we all have in us some hidden talent, some art form yet to be tapped into and develop. I will be 81 this year so I can honestly say: “It is never too late to find it!”.

I enjoyed drawing and sketching as a young boy. I was specially drawn to the lovely variety of flowers in Cuba, where I was born, and would sketch them for my Mother. I would carefully watch her delicate hands as she would take crisp new handkerchiefs and embroider my latest flower sketches onto them. She would then sell the handkerchiefs to make a little extra money to help her large family. She took great pride not only in her artwork but also in her son who inspired her. In this way, she shared her delicate artwork with others. I was fascinated by the way she added “points”, as I called them, onto the handkerchiefs. So, I started making my flower sketches out of “points”. Later, I learned about Pointillism, an intricate and time consuming but beautiful form of art where the majority, if not the whole piece is done in dots or points from your instrument, be that ink, pencil, etc.

Later, as a young man, I met my beautiful wife, Maggie, and started our own family. Eventually we left Cuba and settled in Florida. Busy raising our 5 children I set my creativity aside.

Long after Maggie and I raised our kids, though, I turned to what seemed familiar and relaxing. Something that, to me, helped to focus my mind and bring me comfort. My artistic side had awakened once again! I was 65 years old and excited about my new-found talent and focus. A few years later I was introduced to yet another form of art that I was especially drawn to – Scratch Art or Scratch Board Art.

Combining Pointillism with Scratch Art has created my signature pieces. I love seeing my art come alive gradually taking shape as I patiently add the next stroke or color. I have had the privilege of selling my art internationally. Many of these pieces have been commissioned. I can’t believe it but I even got my own website-at the age of 78! Yes, I post all my artwork and have learned to write blogs and work with my computer and electronic devices to the best of my abilities to ensure quality postings!

In the end, humans are humans regardless of nationality, background or status in life. We all are drawn to beautiful things and have the capacity to enjoy them either by surrounding ourselves with them or creating them for ourselves or sharing them for others to enjoy. Please, I invite you to enjoy looking through my own works of art that have brought me and others great joy. I hope to inspire you to pursue your dreams, your talents and your goals, and ultimately make a difference not only in your life but in the lives of others as well! Thank you, Luis V. Zimmerman

Japanese Snow Monkey Mama executing her motherly duty!