Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Thursday, June 20, 2013

Randy and Art Class. And Me.

Artistic: fourth from the right, top row.
Un-artistic: fourth from the right, second row.
Grade three art class.
So much fun with so many things artistic.
None of them me.
I’m not sure, but I think when artistic ability was handed out in Heaven, I was outside.
Doing something else.
Or if I was there, my ability was poured in with a teaspoon and someone jiggled Heavenly Father’s elbow.
Moving on . . .
Others in my class were gifted with a bit more.
Quite a bit more.
One boy in particular was amazing.
And it was to Randy that I looked whenever a new assignment was handed out.
He never let me down.
We were in grade three, and had been given large pieces of paper and paints and instructed to paint a tree, I immediately turned to see what he did.
And how he did it.
He started with a graceful, fluid line of brown from the bottom of the page to the top.
I dipped my brush in my brown paint.
And made a streak.
That’s all. A streak. Heavy. Clumsy.
And distinctly un-graceful.
Sigh.
I tried to fix it.
It became an ungraceful streak that . . . thickened.
My teacher asked me, kindly, if I’d like to start again. I received my new piece of paper with relief bordering on giddiness.
And proceeded to do the same thing.
Oh, I did produce a tree.
But I had to label it so others would know.
Another time, we were given pictures to colour with our new pressed-wax crayons, and I fared better.
Again, I craned my neck to see what Randy would do.
His Santa picture was coloured heavily, completely filling in the spaces.
No white specks showing at all.
I tried to copy his technique.
But without his results.
Oh, I managed to stay within the lines. And it even turned out . . . acceptable.
But it just didn’t have the flare – the snap – that Randy’s did.
But I was nothing, if not persistent.
Every picture from then on was coloured with great intent. A lot of crayon.
And Randy’s technique.
But with equally disappointing results.
Then, a few months later, Randy changed things up.
For this newest colouring project, he outlined each space heavily, then proceeded to fill in lightly.
I could almost feel my mother’s relief as requests for new boxes of crayons . . . diminished. In fact, I think my current box and Randy’s new method actually lasted me through the end of the year.
Progress!
I kept on trying. And sometimes, was actually satisfied with my efforts.
But, by the end of grade three, I had realized something.
When it comes to things artistic:
Some do.
Others appreciate.
I’m definitely in the second category.

And I’m happy there.

15 comments:

  1. When they called for those who wished to be artistic I thought they said autistic and said "no thanks".

    ReplyDelete
  2. Drawing is only one kind of art - writing is another! And you have loads of talent in that department, my friend!

    I've pondered the same thing as you - some people do, and other people appreciate. But perhaps these are both strengths, just of different kinds, and I really think both are needed in this world.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I do love the Randys of the world!

    Pearl

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, can I relate to your story. In fourth grade, it was Michael. I agree that with practice things did get tolerable, but never enough to be called "artistic" ability. You are right...you have other wonderful talents!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I agree with Jenny that your writing is your art. You do it beautifully and uniquely and always manage to suck me right in! While my art is very stupid-looking, I actually quite enjoy it. Which means I fall in category two as well I suppose!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love your art!!! It is so expressive and fun! And totally ads to your great posts! Hmm . . . d'you think I could do that?!

      Delete
  6. Diane, this post made me smile! Lucky Randy! Poor you! hee hee! Would you believe I'm the artistic one of the family. My middle sister suffered the same woes you did. Her stick men garnished my mother's giggles and my father's, "baby, stick to numbers" comments. To this day she hasn't forgiven me for not "teaching" her to draw proper "people."hee hee! Hugs! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I agree with the others that writing is your art. I love coming here for a good story, well written.
    I can't draw or paint either, neither can my sister, which I think is very unfair because the rest of the family can. My dad, my brothers, my ex husband and his entire family including cousins and in-laws....I have other talents.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kudos for sticking it out, that says a lot about you! Try and try again, then move on! You are definitely a talented writer! You paint pictures with beautiful words!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Lisa! Words are indeed what I love!

      Delete

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