For it was you who formed my inward parts ;
You knit me together in my mother’s womb .
I praise you , for I am fearfully and wonderfully made .
Wonderful are your works ; that I know very well.
Psalm 139:13&14
The classes went ahead with full gusto . Even with the unbearable aspects of the daily commute – the rush hour traffic , the long wait at the traffic lights and the unending honking around , my son’s enthusiasm remained undimmed.
It was a pleasure to watch him saunter into the college campus , greeting everyone with a loud hello ..After the classes , he made sure that he waved at everyone; Even the teachers standing on the corridor sometimes engrossed in an intense discussion , were not spared !
The first year of the bachelor program in visual arts provided the students with an over all view of Painting , Graphic Art , Sculpture and Applied Art . They spent a few months in each department working alongside their seniors . This gave them an opportunity to uncover their own hidden talents and interests so that wise decisions could be made regarding their specialisation the next year .
We had no doubts about the choice – Painting is where his talent lies – Dabbling in the world of colours seemed to cheer him up . However the first year could pose some challenges, Sculpture is what we worried about .. Given his tactile sensitivity issues , we were unsure as to how he would manage his stint at the department. But we were taken by surprise as we saw a video of Jeff , preparing the clay – it was apparently a fun event with all the kids jumping on to the clay & dancing in gay abandon !
Sketching real life subjects proved to a challenge to him – His sketches were distinctly different from those of the others. There were huge expressive faces with diminutive bodies ;disproportionate still life objects .We were baffled ; He too saw the difference and it caused confusion and frustration in his mind -Often did we hear him blurting out- ‘ this isn’t coming out well ‘ while sketching .
Does he need one on one sessions as it has always been with academics ? We wondered for quite sometime . Finally I decided to bell the cat by expressing our concern to the Principal .
Trust in him at all times , O people ;
pour out your heart before him ;
God is a refuge for us .
Psalm 62:8
On a quiet evening, I was able to catch him in the office – he listened attentively and then , in half an hour , succeeded in changing my perception of Art ! With a few examples , he showed me clearly that Art is not just realism – It needn’t reflect what is visible – At its best its interpretation.
The fact that Jeff’s work looks entirely different is something that should be cherished; His unrestrained ,untutored mind would be an asset rather than a drawback . He affirmed that there should be no emphasis on improving his technique currently as it would interfere with his creativity . They would be waiting for his imagination and creativity to unfold unhindered before venturing to improvise his work . He exhorted us to support him , complimenting him whenever possible. I was thankful to him for clearing my jaundiced artistic eye , and for erasing my doubts !
There was another issue to reckon with- We learnt that his over enthusiastic class mates were trying their best to ‘ correct ‘ his work .
One of his teachers handled that issue by selectively praising his work in the class !
The journey of this unique artist has officially begun!
O Lord , Our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth ! You have st your glory above the heavens ..
When I look at your heavens , the work of your fingers , the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them , mortals that you care for them ?
Psalm 8:1, 3-4
Notes from the Sycamore Tree .. 