Sink Saint
SINK SAINT
I have been teaching art classes for about 40 years. What a glorious privilege it has been to teach for that length of time. I like to think that both the student and myself have learned a lot while completing a ton of paintings.
Many choice experiences have been gained while teaching across the country, into Canada, and even in the United Arab Emirates (three times). I have also enjoyed teaching several mornings a month in a Garage about 3 miles from home. It is in this garage that a couple choice students have said, “Talk to me.” What they are saying is, “Please explain what you are thinking as you paint on my picture.”
This learning experience is good for both the student and the teacher.
One time I was asked why do I dip my brush into the paint, then appear to wipe it off on a paint rag before applying it to the canvas.
I really had a good reason: The reason being, “ That is the way my teacher did it.”
The squeezing the brush on the paint rag was really to check the amount of paint on the brush and to shape the brush hair before applying paint to the canvas.
I will give you another reason for doing something that is a bit strange: I clean the sink after I use it in a public facility (restaurants, airports, etc.)
One day I was teaching in Southern California and stopped at a restaurant for breakfast before the class. While using the men’s restroom, I noticed an Asian fellow cleaning the fixtures, etc. He was very dedicated in his work.
I waited till the rest of the patrons had left, and commented to the worker, “Norm’s is very lucky to have you work for them, you do such fine work.”
“Oh, I don’t work for Norm’s.”
“But, then why are you cleaning the restroom?”
“Because I love Jesus.”
Like I say, I sure have been cleaning a lot of public sinks since that day.
Humility
HUMILITY
I love receiving compliments as much as the next artist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Many of us have been told that we are: “The Best, the Greatest, an answer to prayer, etc. and etc.” But, while we can appreciate the phrases being cast our way, we must be careful always as not to be unduly swayed by them. I have learned from experience. Check this one out.
I was 17 ½ years old when I began my professional baseball career. That was many years ago. I was a pretty good pitcher. Maybe not quite as good as I thought that I was!
Everyone I met knew that I was a professional baseball pitcher. How? Was it the way I walked, the way I held my arm, or what? The simple answer is: I told them so.
Anyway, I am sure my dad was a bit concerned over the lack of humility being projected by his second son.
Once in a September I had two weeks after the baseball season before commencing my college studies at Moorhead State College in Minnesota.
One day my father came into our farmhouse living room and said, “I found a job for you for these next two weeks.
“Fine,” I said. I knew could use a little extra spending money to replenish my two-jean wardrobe with the purchase of another pair of blue jeans and some sweaters.
I was told that the job would be at the local turkey plant. My assignment consisted of being one of the workers who had a hanging turkey delivered to him by a track in the ceiling. The dead turkeys had just been run through a plucking machine, and now in a hot, steamy, stinky, wet room, several of us (the others were all middle aged ladies between the ages of 34 to 41. Well they were middle aged to me!) stood in big sloppy rubber boots and commenced pulling off the remaining wet feathers.
I recall one hot afternoon session, when all of a sudden, from behind me, I heard the words, “Boy, if your teammates could see you now!” It was dad with a belly laugh to match his cutting words.
It was good for me to become more humble. I will never forget the two weeks spent at the turkey plant. I learned to appreciate the ladies. And now after 50 + years I can finally stomach a turkey, as long as I don’t have to pick the feathers first.
Be humble
