The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. My 9 year old’s triumphant move into my studio or The Chronicles of Connor part 1.
I have grown accustomed to working alone in my studio (thus the name “Studio Hermit”), with only the company of NPR, music, and Timmy the cat aka “Studio Buddy” being the potential distractions to an otherwise intense environment. It never dawned on me to ask my 9 year-old artistically inclined son to join me in my sanctuary of creative outpourings.
After receiving a fateful call from Connor’s writing teacher, I began to see the light. Despite Connor’s history of scholastic underachievement, his writing teacher expressed interest in Connor’s creative aptitudes and offered him the chance to have his own writing corner in her classroom. In Connor’s own words, “My teacher told me that I have permission to draw on my narrative writing papers… I like making up my own stories!”. Having long since been designated a child with “attention issues”, this veteran teacher recognized that Connor thrives when given personal space. And from Connor’s point of view, he feels he’s finally being rewarded for being a storyteller—with most of his papers reflecting fantastical exploration, dark and light and human drama. Connor is not afraid to express himself as an artist/writer, and he actually impresses all those around him with his innate ability to retrieve dynamic visions from a world that only he understands. A place that has his full obeisance and where no “attention issues” persist.
I never dismissed or tried to suppress these inclinations (though I was worried about his tendency to either get As or Fs—depending on the day), but I never thought that art/writing may actually be his calling. I know, this warrants a big “duh” from my audience given his genetic predisposition, but having experienced firsthand the stigmas and challenges associated with being an artist, I was somewhat loathe to promote his gifts. I of all people should know that if you are born an artist and/or writer, you are an artist and/or writer—and there really is no stopping the impulse for creative expression.
I have to admit, Connor reminds me so much of myself in so many ways. No one could stop me either.
Ace of Wands: The Fairy Tale Tarot
So I asked him: “Would you like to move your desk into Mommy’s studio?”. Connor must have done double flips—it was as if he had been waiting for this invitation all of his young life. And then he rapturously declared “I’ll be your apprentice and you’ll be Mommy Master!”. In some ways he already has been, having posed for a few of my fairy tale paintings and having witnessed me at work for as long as he can remember.
Connor posing for Goldilocks. Connor at age 4 watching his tired mom paint.
We moved his desk from downstairs to my hideaway on the second floor and around the corner. It’s official — he is now a resident artist! Since the move, something has happened to Connor. He is eagerly taking drawing lessons from me (having grasped the basics of perspective with amazing acuity) and is the quietest, most concentrated studio companion an artist can have. He has embraced the studio zone.
Connor was always happiest drawing
His material is taking on a new dimension, fostered by his newly found confidence and pride with a title like “studio artist”. His work is vastly different than my own, as he gravitates to robotic design and graphic narratives—filling page after page with storytelling panels complete with blurbs, onomatopoeias and dynamic visuals. His graphic novels are somewhat crude but full of action and moral-driving raconteur. No one taught him how to do this—he just does them.
a montage of some of Connor's creations (before drawing lessons)
Connor is intent on bringing a new level of technical facility to his work and wants to make his worlds appear more real and tangible as he sees them in his own mind. He has an insatiable desire to learn and get better. He has declared more than once that it is his dream to go to art school. Is it my dream for him? No, I was hoping he would pursue engineering or medicine or anything that I perceive might be the easier “conventional” path. But then again, what does that really mean? Nothing is easy if you don’t have your heart in it. I pursued the arts because I HAD to—and weathered all kinds of challenges to remain true to myself. I think Connor should to be true to himself too.
“Listening to your dreams can provide you with the motivation needed to open yourself up to new experiences. If you track your inner voice and follow your instincts, you can prevail against the inevitable challenges that will test your spirit.” ~ From The Fairy Tale Tarot companion book, Once Upon a Time.
And what has ensued? Connor is happier. Connor is more confident. A girl in his class told him “Connor, you’re really smart” (he was all smiles when I picked him up from school after that), and he has already become more focused on homework and intent on achieving those elusive straight As. He needed this boost and now he’s on a mission. Homework must be completed before he can indulge in his creative exploits and it DOES get done because he has an art goal. Though his expository writing assignments do carry over into studio time, there is no need to completely separate academics from play. Maybe he can learn to merge the two and excel at both (the way I did later on). A mom can be hopeful. For now, I will trust my heart and nurture the artist that is my son. Stay tuned!
~ Lisa
This is so awesome, Lisa! Connor is a lucky young man to have a mom who wants to help him foster and nurture who he truly is in whatever way that manifests. And it’s so wonderful that he’s got a teacher who is also helping him to feel more focused and more confident in the school setting. Congratulations to Connor, and to you on your new studio-mate!
What an awesome opportunity for a budding artist to learn from one of the best!
May I suggest a really great book that is fun for both kids and adults that I think you would both enjoy? It’s called “The Old Man Mad About Drawing” by Francois Place. It’s a tale of Hokusai, the Japanese painter, and it’s a really great read for everyone with a lot of great illustrations.
Great story, great pictures. Children are so rarely supported in talents that do not conform perfectly to the adult agenda. You should start a class!
So happy to read that Connor found a teacher who has experience and recognized his needs AND found a way to incorporate them into the classroom without making him feel bad or “labeled”. Both of my sons have attention “issues” and yet both are so different. My oldest was a quick learner and capable of multi-tasking. However, he would grow board very quickly. My youngest had many OCD tendicies, early on and was the more social one. Which meant that he was distracted easily and was unable to complete tasks because he was so social. His first grade teacher was just out of college and had “dreams” of a perfect classroom where all her students would love her “non-traditional” take on completing tasks in the classroom. What this meant was, she set up four large “activity” tables and the students didn’t have individual desks. Instead they had cubbies with baskets for their supplies and the students had to go take their “baskets” and then “choose” and activity table at the start of each day. Once they completed their chosen task, then they were to move onto their next chose one, and on and on, until they completed all of the days activities. Needless to say…Tim never got past the two or three tasks each day. I have a special ed. background so I tried to work with her by having her send the work home and comunicating with her via a special notebook each day. She grew tired of this each day and by he middle of the year, she was actually telling my son that he would not be moving on to the 2nd grade. Boy…talk about my claws coming out…lol Long story short…I got him moved into a “Chapter One” read and math assistance where a lovely, experienced teacher gave him the one-on-one assistance he needed and he was reading and doing math above his grade level before he year was over. NOW he is a “rocket scientist”…aka Aerospace Engineer and to this day…he remembers his 1st grade teacher. Sorry to go on like this, but it really touches me when good teachers make such an effect on our children:} Of course, we are the first advocates for our children, but we cannot be with them 24/7 and they have to learn socilization skills, etc. in the real world as well. Hopefully my story here gives you hope and the ability to do whatever it takes to give Connor what he needs to be okay with who he is, fondly, Roberta
He is a lucky kid to be able to follow his bliss, with the support of his ‘Master’…err…Mom! LOL
As long as his heart is allowed to sing, he will be a success! xx
He is a lucky kid to be able to follow his bliss, with the support his ‘Master’…err…Mom! LOL
As long as his heart is allowed to sing, he will be a success! xx
What a cutie! And how fun to have some human company while you work.
There is no room in my studio for another chair so I only occasionally get people coming in to stand and chat. 