June 26th, 2018

It is Graduation Day at Mayland CC in Newland, NC!
These brave souls (and two others who had commitments today) took classes on consecutive Tuesdays to expand their artsy ways with watercolor.  

Watercolor is challenging.  It is always good to have "friends" to share your ideas, creative dreams, and, yes, frustrations with this medium.  I had much more fun than they did, but several of them just needed to hear someone else say, "WOW!"  And, I do that very well, I think.
When I first got serious about painting with watercolor, I didn't have that.  You need it.  Someone who does it regularly...who has had some success and many failures...and wants to help you win.  For me, it was Fred Rawlinson.  My super talented mentor, hero, and corn-ball jokester.  I spent 10 years with him on Saturdays.  I have the spiral notebooks and the colored ribbons to prove it. 
So, when asked, I try to give back what Fred gave me.  And today, I watched three graduates march down the aisle.  One gave me a sunset with beautiful reflections on a lake; one gave me a fond memory of a giant sunflower, a pet bull, and a self-portrait; and another gave me a sweet, lonesome dog in a window longing for a companion...oh, and lemon-blueberry cake with decaf coffee and cream.  
Summer school can be fun...