.jpg)
Yes, I'm breaking my own rule about not talking about my classes, but I felt this one needed to be shared... especially since some of you have been privy to other experiences. Aside from the fact that I only found out this class was going to run yesterday morning, and class was to start last night, that would be the least of my problems.
I arrived about 20 minutes early, figuring that since this was the first class, no one would be waiting outside, 45-60 minutes early, like other classes I've (cough) heard about... I had brought in some of my own work, brought in my supplies, dug through old class exercise canvases that have long since been abandoned, trying to figure out my best plan of attack for a 3 hour class.
Mr. Enthusiasm (age 72) showed up first... but I noticed he had no supplies. He said he thought the first class would just be an orientation lecture. I said with only 6 weeks in this session, we're going to start painting tonight!! If he lived close enough, he should really go home and get his stuff.
During our brief bit of smalltalk, I found out that Mr. Enthusiasm was more or less self-taught, having had an insatiable hunger for art history books. He had worked in the steel mills which is where he learned welding, and after that, he ventured into sculpture. He no longer has a torch, so he said he uses whatever other materials he finds that he can repurpose. I get that.
I also heard, "WELDING!!" I have wanted to learn to weld for the past 20 years, but never seem to have gotten the chance. I asked if he would please bring back some of his work, when he went home to get his supplies... and off he went.
Student #2 shows up!! Ms. Youth!! Also supply-less... Really?? No supplies?? She said she gathered that supplies would be included. HA! HAHA!! No, I told her, they're not... you should have been given a list. I said she could use some of mine for this evening... We talked a bit about her experience and what brought her here. She's a graphic designer and spends most of her day doing banners and envelope design. She really wanted something more creative again. She said she also was known for asking questions and hoped that was alright! HA! QUESTIONS?!!! Someone who wanted to ask questions and not know everything right from the start!!! I said I LOVED questions and would do my best to answer all... Yes! Let loose with the questions... ask them in 20 different ways. Pry what you need from my atrophying brain!!!
Enter student #3... Mrs. I'm Retired, (age, early 60's). Guess what?? She had no supplies... I called the main facility, hoping they could fax a list, but apparently none was on file, and I could not access mine at home. I started reeling them off, and was 6 items into a list before they asked if I could email them in the morning. :)
Mr. Enthusiasm returned with some awesome sculptures, we talked about them and his inspiration. We talked about methods, we talked about where this class would be going, and since it was only 3, hopefully everyone would get plenty of time and would be allowed to follow the path they needed.
I couldn't help but notice that Mrs. I'm Retired seemed a bit sheepish when we were discussing some of the aspects we'd be delving into. I asked her what she was thinking, what was up?? She said she had ABSOLUTELY NO EXPERIENCE... and that that was why she was here, because the course book said, "No experience necessary, just a desire to learn." I said she was right! We'd jump in wherever she was! She still looked really nervous. I prodded some more. And then she teared up a little bit and said, "I haven't done anything since high school." I told her I'd had a lot of people like that. High school desires got shelved for real life and decades later, they finally took those desires off the shelf! No problem! She then said, "No, you don't understand... my high school teacher said I had absolutely no talent and should never do art again... but I can't stop thinking about it and when I saw this course offered, I thought, this is my last chance... but I'm worried, what if I really can't do it??"
I was flabbergasted and said the first exercise would be hunting down the old art teacher so we could smack him/her upside the head. I said the mere fact that this has been calling her for DECADES was all I needed to hear, and that she did not need experience, but just had to be open. I told her she would start seeing things in new ways, and she'd never stop. Her response? I'm always trying to look at things with an open mind... always trying to find new ways of thinking. I guess I'm in the right place.
Yes, yes she is.
I just wish I could bottle some of her openness, some of the entire groups' enthusiasm, and share it with another group I know.
So, I have a new class with 3 people... who have no supplies. :) But they're 3 people who have the supplies I didn't really think of... they are OPEN!! They're not defensive! They're excited. They just want to explore. I can work with that.
That's so great, Jennifer! Sounds like a good little group. And I feel BAD for Mrs. Early Retirement that that art teacher told her that so long ago and it's something she's never let go of! Such a great example that people NEED to be kind to people. Who knows what someone's gonna take to heart that'll break their heart? Shame on that teacher!
Anyway, lol @ the supplies. There were TRUE beginners. Hope you have a great experience with them!
Posted by: blue girl | January 12, 2012 at 09:32 AM
When you wrote about welding, this is what I thought of. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILWSp0m9G2U
Posted by: blue girl | January 12, 2012 at 09:35 AM
Charcoal is cheap.
:)
Sounds like an awesome class, Jennifer.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 10:13 AM
Blue collar-dude who now is a metal sculptor? Got that.
We have one of his sculptures, a crow, in our house.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 10:16 AM
LOL @ BG. Yes, I now have the urge to rip up a swearshirt and wear it "off-shoulder". :)
And... I am a maniac, maniac!!!
NO CHARCOAL!!!
PAINT!!!
BG- I know what you mean about people being nicer, or just a little more sensitive to not dropping the daisy cutter on people's thoughts. I remember things I took to heart that teachers had said, thinking they were the experts! They must know! And now, so many years later, I realize so much advice comes from someone else's lack.
Excellent link, ZRM. Yay for Ellis!
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 10:22 AM
That should have been sweatshirt...
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 10:23 AM
Excellent link, ZRM
That is how you know I read your post, and made a comment with link that you and your readers may want to discuss.
:)
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Also, ALL my shirts are swear-shirts.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 10:38 AM
NO CHARCOAL!!!
PAINT!!!
I wonder how watercolors would interact with charcoal or pastel....
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 10:39 AM
I wonder how watercolors would interact with charcoal or pastel.
They make many pastel/colored pencils now that turn into watercolor. You draw, and then you do over them with a wet brush, and can draw on top again. I think charcoal would make a huge mess... but would probably look like ink washes.
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 10:45 AM
That is how you know I read your post, and made a comment with link that you and your readers may want to discuss.
Smart-ase
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 10:46 AM
Nelson's stuff is gorgeous... I love the simplicity of some of it... lovely lines.
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 10:48 AM
I have seen those watercolor pencils around, but I can only afford charcoal.:)
Maybe I have to do some experiments. Like most of my experiments, I suspect it will turn into a gut-wrenching disaster, but at least I can have a drink while doing it.
I have been a huge fan of Nelson's forever. His early stuff was more primitivistic, and that's the nature of the crow we have; but his more recent stuff is more graceful and evocative. He still makes a nice dinosaur though. He's a natural, if ever there was one.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Yes, he does appear to be one. I was thinking I may need to make a trip to Muscoda. Have you ever seen his place?
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 11:07 AM
Also, I have some watercolor pencils I never really used that much. If I can locate them (or if the lamblets haven't adopted them), I'll send them up.
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 11:08 AM
I'm happy for you that you seem to have such a nice little group! I'm sure that you will have a lot of fun with them.
I have a TERRIBLE story about something that a teacher said/did to me in Grade flippin ONE that has followed me my whole life.
I won't bore all of you with it though and besides, everytime I tell it, I bawl my head off. :(
((Hugs))
Laura
Posted by: Laura | January 12, 2012 at 11:09 AM
I'm here!
Of course I didn't bring any supplies...
THAT'S WHAT THEY TAUGHT US IN THE BOY SCOUTS!
~
Posted by: ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© | January 12, 2012 at 11:12 AM
You'll have to share sometime... purge your soul!
I'm still trying to clear my psyche of half the things that were said to me in parochial school...
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 11:12 AM
You're excused, thundra.
Just think, thundra... if you got a job in Chicago, you could take one of my classes! Come on! You're already in the Midwest, what's a little bit farther??
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Have you ever seen his place?
Yep; it's amazing. Or it was, I haven't driven by in some time. All these huge metal dinosaurs and giants and birds and just plain weird shit, standing alongside the road...all quietly rusting.
Muscoda is barely a blip in the road; if you take the main highway through town, you drive right by his place, and it is literally (and I do mean LITERALLY, not the half-ass way most people use it these days [like that flippin' GEICO lizard]) impossible to miss, or mistake for something else.
I have heard he is kind of taciturn, and not a chatty sort; I think he has a greeter or receptionist or somebody who deals with the public for him now, as he has become something of a celebrity. For an artist, I mean.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 11:17 AM
Also, I have some watercolor pencils I never really used that much. If I can locate them (or if the lamblets haven't adopted them), I'll send them up.
kewl. I have a box of Cray-Pas I will send down to you.
:)
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 11:18 AM
Yeah, thudner, you're already in the midwest. How much worse can it get?
Posted by: fish | January 12, 2012 at 11:20 AM
How much worse can it get?
of course, fish is looking forward to the oceans rising....
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 11:20 AM
Damn, why do I keep forgetting to shut the freezer door!
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 11:24 AM
Although I'm not fond of these... I can kind of understand why they might have started. Take one verbose,elitist East Coast fish... add boiling water. Voila!
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 11:27 AM
yeah, I am not so much for the fish boils, either. I suspect they were started as a joke on tourists. Of course, Minnesotans took it even further with lutefisk; "Hey, I wonder if they will eat fish soaked in poison? Look at that! THEY'RE EATING IT!"
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 11:32 AM
It's starting to scare me how smiley Zombie is.
Posted by: blue girl | January 12, 2012 at 11:34 AM
Soaking fish in poison!! HEY!!!! :)
BG- It's a brave new world!!
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 11:39 AM
I'm too chicken to survive it! Maybe that's a Zombie's plan...
Posted by: blue girl | January 12, 2012 at 11:47 AM
There are a lot of creative things to do with fish...
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 11:59 AM
Yes, yes there are.
That ought to send him running. He can dish it out, but...
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 12:06 PM
But what would I do for a living, he pondered.
zrm, does WHEDA need any people?
~
Posted by: ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© | January 12, 2012 at 12:17 PM
Probably. They cut way back when Trudwaffle took office, so at this point they probably are incredibly understaffed.
No union or bennies though! Brave New World!
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 12:19 PM
Now that I think of it, you could try these people also.
Seems like it might be related, and they are expanding, as far as I know. I can get you a contact name if you want...
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 12:22 PM
"Too bad I can't get a job posting pictures of birds and butterflies", he grumbled.
~
Posted by: ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© | January 12, 2012 at 12:24 PM
Grizzled's got some contacts if you're seriously interested... But no contacts for posting bird and butterfly photos.
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 12:27 PM
You say creative, I say degrading, let's call the whole thing off.
Posted by: fish | January 12, 2012 at 12:46 PM
Not to distract from the halping of the thundra, but :
BREAKING NEWS HALPING JENNFER!
look at the middle of the third row!
And this isn't fish-stylee Halping Jennifer with the speedras and the terror and such.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 12:48 PM
Jennfer = Jennifer. Shut up.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 12:52 PM
JENNFER is the new Jennifer.
P.S. "Word" should be a jar.
~
Posted by: ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© | January 12, 2012 at 12:58 PM
I'm getting one of those jars!! I'll also have one that says "Pannies"... which is how some people say it. Guh!
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 12:59 PM
the door is a jar.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 01:01 PM
Every time it rains, it rains pannies from heaven.
Posted by: fish | January 12, 2012 at 01:01 PM
Wow what a bad teacher that lady had. Mind you, just about all of my teachers would have said the same and the Art guy at secondary school did imply it to me and others. Bloody idiot.
Good on her for sticking with it and taking the plunge.
I think that the class has a good teacher too, who will be of immense help to them. I reckon she should wear a shirt but possibly not the swearshirt to Art class.
Posted by: Another Kiwi | January 12, 2012 at 01:18 PM
I recommend
Posted by: fish | January 12, 2012 at 01:25 PM
DAMMIT.
I SAID, I recommend this shirt (of interest to Laura too).
Posted by: fish | January 12, 2012 at 01:26 PM
I really don't want anyone to comment on what I'm about to write or address it in any way... But, so many people don't like the word "panties" and I don't get why. It's not like I run around yelling it 24/7, but it's just a word that doesn't mean anything negative to me.
Carry on.
Posted by: blue girl | January 12, 2012 at 01:30 PM
Aaaah! Karl Rove had a way with words, did he not?
Posted by: Another Kiwi | January 12, 2012 at 01:30 PM
One-upping fish.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 01:31 PM
Every time it rains, it rains pannies from heaven.
That's a weird dream, fish.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 01:33 PM
I really don't want anyone to comment on what I'm about to write or address it in any way
Which explains why you posted it on the internets. :)
Carry on.
Oh, we do, we do.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 01:34 PM
fish's methods are unsound.
~
Posted by: ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© | January 12, 2012 at 01:35 PM
WHAT I MEANT, Mr. Smiley, was that it grosses people out so much that I didn't want anyone to think they had to ponder the word they hate even more by responding to my thought. I was trying to be nice to our hostess!
Posted by: blue girl | January 12, 2012 at 01:36 PM
One-upping fish.
Oh, come on ZRM, you know I don't give a flying f**k.
Posted by: fish | January 12, 2012 at 01:38 PM
But do you have a rolling donut, fish?
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 01:40 PM
...besides, fish, some of your posts indicated that you do. Give one, I mean.
It's why you are mah fren.
:)
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 01:41 PM
No credit at all for the hilarious joke? Cuz that was aces.
Posted by: fish | January 12, 2012 at 01:46 PM
Actually, I think "panties" is a perfectly appropriate word.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 01:48 PM
No credit at all for the hilarious joke?
Nope. Nobody's giving credit anymore.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 01:50 PM
Damn humorless bankers.
Posted by: fish | January 12, 2012 at 02:12 PM
But, so many people don't like the word "panties" and I don't get why.
It's not because the word is bad... it's just the way it sounds, and the face people get...
I like the Flying F***. :)
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 02:20 PM
I felt this one needed to be shared... especially since some of you have been privy to other experiences.
when I read this I thought "The painting class flooded!!!!!"
Posted by: Kathleen | January 12, 2012 at 02:28 PM
OUCH!!
K is banned from class.
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 02:31 PM
Kathleen is triggering Jennfer.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 02:31 PM
'm getting one of those jars!! I'll also have one that says "Pannies"...
I'm going to get you a jar that says "Panties" on it.
Posted by: Kathleen | January 12, 2012 at 02:34 PM
double trigger
Posted by: Kathleen | January 12, 2012 at 02:34 PM
I see the comments already went there
Posted by: Kathleen | January 12, 2012 at 02:36 PM
Kathleen is Katching up.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 02:40 PM
I'm keeping a low profile.
~
Posted by: ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© | January 12, 2012 at 03:22 PM
Blue collar-dude who now is a metal sculptor? Got that.
We'd jump in wherever she was!
Off the end of the jetty. While ZRM makes a charcoal sketch.
Posted by: herr doktor bimler | January 12, 2012 at 03:36 PM
Bimler's link is forbidden. Why am I not surprised!
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 03:48 PM
Buggrit. Try this:
http://www.thorntongallery.co.nz/webapps/i/60887/76009/83837
Posted by: herr doktor bimler | January 12, 2012 at 03:57 PM
Or this
~
Posted by: ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© | January 12, 2012 at 04:16 PM
Love the cat! (bimler's, not thundra's. bimler's would make me sneeze a little less.)
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 04:20 PM
Bimler's links are always forbidden, or should be. But considering this thread has included panties, painting classes, cats, flooding, and charcoal sketching, how much more damage could it do?
Not that you should take that as a challenge, Bimler.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 04:36 PM
You forgot fish...
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 05:18 PM
i never forget fish
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 05:41 PM
bromance!
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 05:53 PM
It's kinda like a "Zardoz" in here.
Each student must bring a giant, flying stone head to class.
Posted by: Big Bad Bald Bastard | January 12, 2012 at 05:55 PM
Don't tempt me. :)
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 05:58 PM
But considering this thread has included panties, painting classes, cats, flooding, and charcoal sketching, how much more damage could it do?
~
Posted by: ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© | January 12, 2012 at 06:14 PM
thunder seems like such a NICE fellow....
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 06:41 PM
I would ban him, Jennfer.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 06:41 PM
I was just trying to halp!
*sniff*
~
Posted by: ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© | January 12, 2012 at 07:07 PM
I would ban him, Jennfer.
Done. I wished him into the cornfield.
That was just what my adrenal system needed after the hour terror drive through my winter wonderland.
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 07:23 PM
Now my car battery is dead. First time ever for the Honda Civic.
*sniff*
I'M SORRY JENNIFER!!!
~
Posted by: ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© | January 12, 2012 at 07:32 PM
Just trying to help! indeed. Off to the cornfield and no mistake.
Posted by: Another Kiwi | January 12, 2012 at 07:34 PM
I'M SORRY JENNIFER!!!
Too late... the locusts arrive tomorrow... genital sores, sometime on Saturday. :)
xoxo
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 07:49 PM
Effin' triple A.
Locusts would be more helpful.
~
Posted by: ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© | January 12, 2012 at 08:21 PM
Is it possible AAA has been acquired by AT&T?
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 08:35 PM
Well they showed up and the car is running.
Time spent dealing with AAA: most of it.
From when the people at Roy's got the call and got out here...almost nothing.
Maybe I shoulda just called Roys...
P.S. I needed to renew the AAA membership. Then they said I'd have to pay $25 extra due to a "pre-existing condition" (aka the dead battery).
~
Posted by: ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© | January 12, 2012 at 09:08 PM
I hope they left you a big, nasty spider.
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2012 at 09:10 PM
I hope they left you a big, nasty spider.
...and a beefy squirrel with an attitude.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 10:01 PM
On the first day of zombpocalypse my mechanic sent to me,
Two hairy spiders and a beefy squirrel with an attitude.
It fits the tune disturbingly well.
Posted by: Another Kiwi | January 12, 2012 at 10:34 PM
On the third day of Zompocalypse
Jennifer sent to me
Three broken lonks...
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 12, 2012 at 10:48 PM
Mrs. I'm retired... how very sad, and wonderful.
Posted by: nnntewns | January 12, 2012 at 11:40 PM
on the fourth day of Zompocalypse zombie sent to me
four misspelled words
Posted by: Kathleen | January 12, 2012 at 11:41 PM
On the fifth day of zompocalypse
Pinko sent to me
F#$*ING 3 BULLS RA-A-A-ADIO!
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | January 13, 2012 at 12:04 AM
I said the mere fact that this has been calling her for DECADES was all I needed to hear, and that she did not need experience, but just had to be open.
And then SKRUNCH the alien burst out of her chest. Saw it coming a mile away.
Posted by: Substance McGravitas | January 13, 2012 at 12:55 AM
Time spent dealing with AAA: most of it.
I am impressed that Thundra's car uses such small batteries.
Posted by: herr doktor bimler | January 13, 2012 at 01:03 AM