Hola! Back in the swing of things, feels like vacation was weeks away. I’ve had one day of school and one night class at Create! Tired and sore at the end of a long day, but happy that I can offer something to the world at large, even if it is humble art “coaching.”
Tonight’s drawing class is filled with amazing talent -- no exaggeration. It always stuns me when people who create such perceptive and beautiful drawings say “they can’t draw.” We talked about it tonight -- some people expect such specific results from themselves, mostly simply realistic, when their natural skill and talent points them in successful directions that are more abstract and expressive. It is all art, peeps. Why judge against reality and nature alone? Follow the muse.
We had a meeting at school today about upcoming changes to the schedule and staff because of the recent override failure. It is not good news. No finalized specific changes at this point, but all signs point to Very Bad Things for the art program. I do think that for the time being I still have a position, but big changes are on the way that will change the nature of what I do every day, and more important, will change the art experiences that kids are able to have. Will know more in a month.. Can you say “Student Teachers Welcome?” Sigh. I worry about a middle school where all students do not get to explore their creative abilities. I understand why some adults think their art is “terrible.” These two things go hand in hand.
I had Cairo with me tonight. He was mostly a good parrot, until he casually nipped at my earring and removed it, in a gesture so smooth that a pick-pocket would have been proud to pull off. It was a large, odd shaped gold criss-cross stud, and I couldn’t find it, so I flipped him over to see if it was in his beak. Thankfully he didn’t swallow it. He’d dropped it into the back of my shirt. Jeez. All the way home he sat snuggled up on my chest under my coat, cooing like a little dove, like he did when he was a contented, fed baby. So cute. After returning him to his cage, I left the bird room for a bit. When I returned, he spoke a super clear “Hello!” and flapped his wings. Such a special thing from a mostly quiet bird. Cairo really likes “date night!” He’ll come again on Thursday’s Stitch Studio class, too, but I will remember to not wear good earrings!
Welcome back to the working world! This is what I feel like, to a “T”!