Art Lessons

      One of the highlights of my childhood was art lessons on Mrs. Schramm's back porch. Mrs. Schramm, a wonderfully patient older lady that was a terrific artist in her own right, gave lessons to two or three kids at a time from the comfort of her own back porch. It had been finished off as an addition of sorts with windows and a door. It didn't have heat but it had lots of brilliant light and the enclosure provided a place to paint year round. When it got cooler the area was warmed by the heat from the main house that came out the interior door to the kitchen which Mrs. Schramm never bothered to close. I'm pretty sure the cats would have objected. They had free reign of the entire house. The numerous felines kept us company as we carefully attempted to get our masterpieces down on canvas. There was one that took a special liking to me and enjoyed curling up behind my easel for his afternoon nap. I loved him but I was so allergic that my eyes would swell shut if I touched him, so I kept my distance. We had an understanding that cat and I. I'd leave him to his endless slumber and he wouldn't come around to the front of the canvas and turn me into an inflamed looking zombie child.

      My art lesson was always right after school. Mrs. Schramm knew that we would be starving so at each easel she generously provided a plate of homemade cookies and a large glass of milk. The fresh baked cookies alone were worth the price of admission. As I recall she didn't charge very much to begin with. It was never about the money anyway.

      My painting station was situated so that my back was to the outside door and on my right was a large multi paned glass window which allowed for wonderful light. That room was a painter's paradise. The light was perfect around four in the afternoon. It was a soft, white light. It's funny, I can't remember what I did last week, but I can remember almost every detail of that porch. The way it smelled, the stand I put my art box on, the clothespin she used to keep my inspiration picture in place, the big tree I passed in the back yard walking in, it is all as clear as if it were yesterday. Things were simple then. I went to school and one day a week I got to paint. I looked forward to that hour and a half. Mom said that she would drop off one child and pick up another. During the time in between that whiny, combative girl miraculously turned into a delightfully happy soul. My weekly metamorphous occurred in under ninety minutes. The transformation began as soon as I hit that door. There was something about that place that provided me with true, uninterrupted happiness. I felt connected to it. I felt connected to Mrs. Schramm, like kindred spirits.

      Mrs. Schramm's beautiful personality was part of the total experience. She was happy, relaxed and pleasant. She enjoyed teaching us to paint. She never got bent out of shape, no matter how immature and off task that boy in the corner became. I did notice however that after a few such sessions he did not return. No great loss, the cat and I never liked him anyway.

      Art and painting in particular provided me with an outlet from whatever ailed me. It made everything go away for a little while and it gave me a chance to recharge my batteries and get back in touch with the person that I was meant to be, not the stressed out perfectionist that too often dominated my moods.

      Now as an art teacher myself I get to see the transformative power of art in a child's life every day at school. I am always amazed at how quickly the human spirit can heal itself given enough time and an ample amount of paint. I began offering art lessons to students who loved my class but wanted the experience to last more than a semester. I have had a few takers for this summer and as I was discussing the particulars with them after school I noticed that one of my favorite students became a little sad. I think that she would have been the first to sign up had it not been for the cost. So I decided that this would be a great opportunity for a pay it forward. I pulled her aside and told her that I would love for her to take some art lessons and that I would offer them to her free of charge as a way to pay her back for all of her hard work in my class. She is constantly helping me with everything from Jr. Civitan's projects, to art room cleaning duties, to assisting other classmates. She is a talented, deserving young lady and I can't wait to see what see creates! After all, it was never about the money anyway.

Laurie