Thomas's Art teacher, Karen, thinks Thomas's art work is "something special" and wanted one of his pieces to be featured in a local art show that was showing local artists. The art was on display for this whole past week and for two hours yesterday, from 4-6, a special opening (with cookies and lemonade!) the artists and community members could come and meet and greet. Thomas, of course, didn't want to go but we dragged him out of his room and made him go along. He was (I think) pleasantly surprised that about a dozen or so of his classmates were there as well. Simon wonders where the cookies are:
Thomas begrudgingly stands near his pastel work while I take his photo. I asked him to stand in front of it and smile happily, but he wouldn't, because he said that it was a "stupid thing" that he "hated." Of course, when the other kids from his school asked him to stand in front of it so
they could take his picture, he did it without any problem. Sheesh.
Each artist was required to write up a statement of their thoughts. If you click on the photo, it will enlarge so you will be able to read what Thomas has written.
Thomas DID spend a lot of time on this picture--not only in class but outside. Last semester he stayed after school every Tuesday for two hours working on this, from 3:15 when classes ended until around 5:15 when I got done at work and picked him up. Then he would fly home, snack, and run to orchestra rehearsals for three hours. Karen, his teacher, said she particularly liked this piece because the way he has the water falling over a rock makes it look like a door, as if it is a secret entrance into a magical place. Thomas won't say if that is intentional or not. He's very cagey about his art--he won't name it, or explain where he gets his ideas from--typical artist really. If we push him with too many questions, he may fly off the handle, smash our cameras, and set all his art works on fire.
Thomas begrudgingly stands near his pastel work while I take his photo. I asked him to stand in front of it and smile happily, but he wouldn't, because he said that it was a "stupid thing" that he "hated." Of course, when the other kids from his school asked him to stand in front of it so they could take his picture, he did it without any problem. Sheesh.
Each artist was required to write up a statement of their thoughts. If you click on the photo, it will enlarge so you will be able to read what Thomas has written.
Thomas DID spend a lot of time on this picture--not only in class but outside. Last semester he stayed after school every Tuesday for two hours working on this, from 3:15 when classes ended until around 5:15 when I got done at work and picked him up. Then he would fly home, snack, and run to orchestra rehearsals for three hours. Karen, his teacher, said she particularly liked this piece because the way he has the water falling over a rock makes it look like a door, as if it is a secret entrance into a magical place. Thomas won't say if that is intentional or not. He's very cagey about his art--he won't name it, or explain where he gets his ideas from--typical artist really. If we push him with too many questions, he may fly off the handle, smash our cameras, and set all his art works on fire.
3 comments:
Wonderfully vivid colours and you all look happy. Have you seen any of the Hockney pictures of Yorkshire from his latest exhibition. There's a similar quality in the colour there.
xM
Thomas has always had a fantastic sense of color--I always defer to him when picking out yarn in a yarn store. Sometimes I cringe when I see what he has chosen: the color combinations seem impossibly lurid or garish and he spends less than 3 seconds making his decisions yet, when the sweater is done it ALWAYS looks exactly right. I can spend hours laboring over the decision, I have spent years studying dozens of color theory books and I never get the results that he gets--if there is such a things as "genius" for such a capacity, he's got it and so far, thankfully, no second-rate art teacher has managed to squelch it (not for lack of trying, though). Thankfully, his current art teacher, Karen, is FANTASTIC and she knows exactly how to bring out the best in Thomas.
It must be huumbling living with so much talent - but then you are pretty talen ted yourself!
xM
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