Sept from Mary - that student's painting

 

When I pulled this one out of the mailbox, that guy looked familiar, but I had to email Mary and ask who it is/was. And now with my scattered brain - all I can think of is Richard Diebenkorn which is not correct. OK - Lichtenstein, Roy Lichtenstein. Whew. I think that image of him was on the sheet of Lichtenstein stamps. And I think I will be appropriating this idea.

***

My post yesterday, talking about encouraging Janet to make a painting herself rather than looking for something to hang in her home reminded me of a favorite story from my teaching days. While I enjoyed the calligraphy classes - my favorite class was Art for the Intimidated. I've talked about it before. It was my own idea to offer a 7 week class to people who were intimidated by the studio arts program and to introduce them to a wide variety of mediums. By the end of the class most people were no longer intimidated and many went on to enjoy all kinds of classes.

One student who was enjoying all the different things we tried was inspired by my suggestion that if you liked abstract art it was pretty easy to buy a canvas and some paint and do your own version of pretty much anything you saw that you liked. Towards the end of the series of classes she shared something with the whole class. She was in the process of getting a divorce and her husband had shown up at the home where she was living with the kids - to pick up the kids for his time with them. He came into the front entryway and saw a large painting that was new. He made a snarky comment about the soon-to-be ex-wife spending money on art -- and she smiled as she told us how she let him know that she had done it herself - and it only cost ?? - I do not recall how much - but it was a modest sum.

It was nice to see how happy she was. I always enjoyed hearing from people who took my suggestions to *just make it yourself.*