Investing in Hannah
Painting with Hannah at a fundraiser
Hannah is 15. She first came to me as a student when she was approaching 6. My studio doors opened and in walked a little girl with a calm yet eager stance and a willingness to go for it. Hannah was diagnosed and survived a form of cancer (Leukemia) at the age of 5. The effects of the intense treatments left her with neurological damage in her hands resulting in motor skill difficulties often making it hard to release the grip from the brush. Is this an obstacle when learning to paint and draw? Absolutely not ! Hannah’s positive nature allows her to see things different than most. Raised by her grandma and grandpa, Hannah has a survivor’s spirit instilled by what I call “a good old dose of old school thinking.”
I am a left brain creative , she is a right. She sees life through the distinctive eyes and heart of a young women who loves everything from Johnny Cash and WW2 veterans to ironic quick witted statements.
Her paint strokes go off to the left when I say right. Her lines go straight when I direct them to swing and sway. Now this is all art talk but let me explain. Art is NOT to be sheltered in a box where we tend to think we store God as well. Many artists can relate when I say there is a need in us to tap our right side of the brain. We don’t get enough of it.
Contrast and value are terms that are at the discretion of the artist or the exactness of the subject. That’s what makes art quirky and wild and wonderful. It is in those moments of creation we truly melt to the likelihood of what you see is not necessarily what the artist intended.
All I knew was this little vibrant soul named Hannah had an uninhibited drive to create, and she was gonna challenge the creative nature of who I was as a teacher. When Jesus tells us to do something, He rarely gives us a stencil or cut out step by step method. He liberates us to examine and experience the art within the guidance of The Holy Spirit. This is how I approach all my students. Now keep in mind, yes there are staples in art that are elements that are fact and help us grow in skill and excellence, but never, and I do say never to all teachers out there, never assume your students are cut from a mold. Each one is like a snowflake . The same but different.
As Hannah grew and we developed a solid teacher student trust I saw before me a mature young women who I invested in. We are like a bank. We deposit and we withdraw. We pay out and we take in. What is the nature of your investments? Who is your source? What do your investments gain and how are you spending the profit? You don’t have to be an artist to apply the simple principle of investing in young lives as the most profitable investment far exceeding monetary returns.