The spring of 1985 I entered the second semester of my
freshman year in college. Besides my music classes I took Art History 101: From
Giotto to Renaissance. Other than the textbook the professor only assigned us one
book to read, The Lives of the Artists
by Giorgio Vasari written in 1549. In the preface Vasari expressed his view of
artists as divine genius. I felt doomed on becoming an artist. I was clearly
not endowed with this divine talent. But as I read on I started having hopes. When
Vasari talked about Giotto’s teacher, the hard working young Cimabue, he said, “.
. . [the] continuous practice so greatly enhanced his natural talent. .
. .” As a person who started the
violin at age 5, I understood this so well. I am never lazy with practice. I
know that if my middle name is not Amadeus, I must practice hard to call on
divine notice, and the moments often come. Three weeks ago I gave each student 500
sheets of newsprints for them to start their drawing life. They have all made
their permanent drawing corner at home. The point of taking drawing class is
not for them to draw in my studio but for them to draw in their own studio for
a life time.
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| Herbert Wang, 11 |
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| Lily Song, 8 |
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| Max Peng, 13 |
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| Michael Tu, 10 |
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| Melisa Li, 12 |
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