My eighth grade art teacher – Mr. C. He was a pretty cool guy that took art very seriously. He taught us how to throw clay on the wheel, sculpt with our hands, painting, and drawing.
I’ve been into art my whole life and this was the first person (besides my mom) that I ran to every time I made something. I used to doodle a lot when I was a child and one particular drawing that stays rent free in my mind is the dog Tramp from the Disney movie Lady and the Tramp.
It was large size and I put lots of detail into it, and unfortunately I don’t have a photo of it because he ended up keeping my drawing. He kept a few of my things I made, like the pinch pots we used to throw on the wheel.
This small act of kindness meant so much to me at such a young age, and from that moment on art has just become apart of me. When I left and moved on to high school, he signed my yearbook on the first page and left a note to “continue on with my art and pursue an education with it.”
That was almost 20 years ago.
Now, I’m still an artist. Not a professional but I still mess around hoping someday it might take off.
I paint with acrylics on canvas. I’ve made lots of paintings over the years and I continue to improve on my skills and techniques each time.
I think about Mr. C. and I wonder if he is still around today, and if he would be proud that I never gave it up. It might not be my career, but he made an impact on it.
If you are here and somehow ever see this – thanks for believing in me and appreciating my work, the world’s greatest art teacher.
Different Hats 
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