The Artist at Work

By MrsJ
Belews Creek, North Carolina
July 10, 2019 8:04pm CST
My daughter could out-draw me by the time she was three years old. That’s not necessarily evidence) that she was a child prodigy (my stick people aren’t even convincing--but it does set the stage for the fact that she is a compulsive drawer. Over the years she has sketched on church bulletins, doodled on scratch paper, and created mini masterpieces in the margins of her school notebooks (and then attempted to hide the evidence by erasing the results). Ever since she could hold a pencil she has been drawing pictures. It’s what she does. It’s who she is. She is currently working furiously to complete a commission that she took on almost a year ago. A relative of friend of hers is an author and has asked her to illustrate a children’s book. Her deadline is July 31st. She only has four more illustrations to complete but I suspect that she will be adding finishing touches until she actually has to drop the package in the mail. Her dream is to be an illustrator so hopefully, this project will be the first of a long series. Meanwhile, where ever she goes, whatever she does (including helping me backstage), she always has a sketchbook and pencil with her. (And if she doesn’t she’s find something). Do you know any compulsive artists (or writers, or…).
11 people like this
11 responses
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
11 Jul 19
I used to be like that with a camera, always in my hand, always snapping away. Then one day someone said they hated to see me coming "with that damn camera" so I stopped, I don`t want to offend people ir make them hate me.
3 people like this
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
11 Jul 19
I used to sing around the house until my oldest child (he was four or five at the time) asked me to stop. It's amazing how someone else can unintentionally suck a lot of joy out of life with a careless comment. I try to be very gentle about how others display their creativity, I don't want to be the reason someone stops doing what they love.
2 people like this
• Philippines
11 Jul 19
do you still have those pictures you took?
1 person likes this
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
11 Jul 19
I look at it a bit different. Taking photos is something I enjoy doing. Normally I will ask if people mind my taking their photo, most say no problem. The few that objected I honored what they said. But I will still take photos, just avoiding including them in the shot. If I get them anyway, well I will delete the photo or mark it in the name as something that cannot be shared.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471421)
• Switzerland
11 Jul 19
I wish her dream comes true. I loved to draw and I did not follow my dream, this is something I still regret.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471421)
• Switzerland
11 Jul 19
@SophiaMorros I am glad she is studying what she loves, I am sure she can become a good illustrator.
2 people like this
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
11 Jul 19
She's working hard to make her dream become a reality. She's studying art at university and is very focused on what she wants to do.
2 people like this
@velvet53 (22534)
• Palisade, Colorado
11 Jul 19
That is awesome. I hope she keeps with it and becomes famous. My one granddaughter can draw but she doesn't stay with it. It comes in spurts.
2 people like this
@velvet53 (22534)
• Palisade, Colorado
11 Jul 19
@SophiaMorros It just takes one picture bought by the right person and she could be going somewhere. Your post put me in the mood to pull out the pictures that I have drawn. They aren't very good but it was fun to see them again.
2 people like this
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
11 Jul 19
I don't know if my daughter will ever become famous, but I know she'll never stop drawing. She can't help herself.
2 people like this
@sallypup (61155)
• Centralia, Washington
11 Jul 19
That's cool about your daughter. She reminds me of my kiddo- 40 this year but still my kiddo. Daughter and I were at the Mpls airport. I spotted a lovely birdhouse that looked like an old man. Daughter knew that I wanted that silly birdhouse but of course it wouldn't fit in my suitcase. She was bored so since she had some crayons and paper, she sketched the birdhouse and gave the paper to me. She told me that her version would fit into my suitcase! I have the piece framed and hanging on my dining room wall right now.
2 people like this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
11 Jul 19
That is the best gift EVER!
3 people like this
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
11 Jul 19
My daughter's most memorable doodle happened when she was eleven or so. She had the only child's role in a theatre production and accidentally got her hands on someone else's script and proceeded to sketch in the margins. Theatre people tend to be pretty easy-going when it comes to the talents of others and as embarrassed as my daughter was the mistake got her a lot of praise and encouragement.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340200)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jul 19
A young lad (now a young man) in the next small town was like your daughter and has now made it his career. The three (maybe four) children in the family have all been home-schooled. The mother is an author and the girls are also talented. I know one is a singer. The lad's name is Gabriel Evans but they're no relation. He has a website.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340200)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jul 19
@SophiaMorros I hope she finds it interesting.
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
11 Jul 19
I just found his website. I'll pass that on to my daughter!
2 people like this
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
11 Jul 19
My son also loved drawing. He was not quite as devoted as your daughter appears to be. It is so refreshing to see someone know what they want to be at such a young age. Someone apparently who has the skills to achieve it.
2 people like this
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
11 Jul 19
I've always tried to encourage her interest in art...and it seems to be bearing fruit
2 people like this
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
11 Jul 19
@SophiaMorros That is the key I think. Parents miss so many opportunities with their children, or at least I think they do. Giving encouragement provides pathways for the child. So many parents are so busy they leave their child to fend for itself most of the time.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
11 Jul 19
i love her hair and her blouse. there is a US mylotter who has "a children's picture book done all in rhyme...but needs illustrations." i wonder if...
@Morleyhunt (21744)
• Canada
12 Jul 19
Some of us are always thinking about....planning quilts.
@Deepizzaguy (102927)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
11 Jul 19
I am not really into drawing as well as your daughter who has a superb future in this field of work.
2 people like this
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
11 Jul 19
It's a tough field but she is determined enough, and talented enough (in my not-so-humble mom opinion) to make it.
1 person likes this
• Canada
14 Jul 19
There are many talented artists in the family, though the medium varies.
1 person likes this
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
15 Jul 19
We do have a lot of talented artists.
@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
28 Jul 19
@SophiaMorros That is very impressive to illustrate a children's book. I am not sure if i do. So does she want to go further in her art?
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
28 Jul 19
@SophiaMorros How you described her I can see that happening for her.
1 person likes this
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
28 Jul 19
Art is her passion. She's currently working on an art degree and plans to be a professional artist.
1 person likes this