Monday, January 14, 2008

What is REAALLY Great About Being an 'Artist'


Every year about this time I get reminded of one of the greatest things about being able to draw and paint...I get to draw pics for my kids' schools...which is why my latest IF posts aren't the 'best rendered'...short on time and what time I do have goes mostly to them.

But there are moments when you run across another's kid and they ask you to draw them something when they see you doodling. I've been in hospitals in the emergency room waiting areas and had a long time to wait...and you see some poor sick kid or impatient one waiting and you can just doodle something and make their day. One of the defining moments in my life was when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade involving an elementary school teacher on cafeteria duty. I saw him doodling and I asked him if he could draw anything. He said he could draw most things. So immediately I threw out, "Can you draw Garfield? and a dragon? and a horse? and a soldier?" Of course I wasn't intending for him to draw those things but it was just a kid's way of thinking out loud. So he leaned over a cooler near us and I continued on a conversation with my friend not giving the other conversation another thought. Within a matter of 5 minutes Mr. Thomson slipped a piece of paper in front of me with Garfield, and a dragon, and a horse, and a soldier. It really blew my mind.

This drawing was done for a young lady that loved tigers. It didn't take that long and the smiles it got were great...I hope those of us that have such capabilities remember that...it NEVER takes that long...

8 comments:

atomicvelvetsigh said...

ohh! what an amazing story! i never really had that challenge before nor challenge anyone. its lovely thinking that maybe that instance made you an artist yourself. i guess one of my early inspirations involved a teacher too but she was always passionate in her class and having my works always among the posted ones on the school lobby makes my day. i even thought i wanted to be just like her..

Anonymous said...

I always thought that artists were just people that couldn't do anything real(like work at fletchers). Nice story but wish your kids had a different gene package.

are we tubing this weekend?
pappy k is ready to go, so is brenda

Brine Blank said...

Does you face look like a bald version of Pebbles...the side with the wagging tail...

Yep, we're there.

I was trying to break up my IF string of posts...next I'm going to post a story about fuzzy bunnies...

Anonymous said...

Good, it will be nice and cold. Consider Amy and I going.
When are you planning the trip. Saturday I assume, day or night trip? We're open to either.
By the way, you really are a real artist. That kind of surprised me. I want you to draw a caricature of my boss. I"ll bring in the ugly picture. Of course all of his are ugly.

Brine Blank said...

You need to talk to the K-dog and her husband to see if he has permission. I thought they were planning the trip. For 4 bucks more don't you get an all day pass...the other way is just 4 hours...can we get it all in in 4 hours...otherwise I don't care...it's supposed to be 40 jillion degrees below zeore so cold in the morning is the same as cold at night.

Anonymous said...

pappy K and boss want to leave at 7am and do the 9-1pm. I don't care one way or another. One problem is the height is 44" over. D-money isn't that tall is he?
why don't you call tonite. That way we can hash some things out.
Hey, by the way, make sure you bring me some more tax business this year. I want more than just your return!

Anonymous said...

I checked and it does open on Sat at 9am.

BRING YOUR WII

Honor said...

Hey, what a great post! Love the image but the thoughts are even better. ;-)