II.

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Jamie hadn’t said more than a few words during the entire visit, yielding the conversation to her more affable sister. But the truth was, she had never felt more at home than in that studio among all the paintings, brushes, pigments, and rolls of canvas. Something just clicked for her that made her want to be a part of that world. In the coming weeks, she began to practice drawing and asked for a set of colored pencils for her birthday. Normally she would watch TV with her sister in the evenings, but now she camped out at the dining room table with her art supplies neatly organized, spending hours drawing from photographs she had cut out from magazines. It had become a sort of obsession for her, and she wanted more of it.

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When Mr. Phillips’s wife, Judy, finally called twelve weeks later, Jamie could hear her mom scheduling a date to view and pick up the portrait, and begged to go along.

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When they arrived at Mr. Phillips’s studio again, Judy was there to greet them.

 

Jamie immediately liked Judy, who treated all children as if she were their long-lost auntie. Standing in front of Jamie with her hands lovingly set on her shoulders, Judy said, “You must be Jamie. I know because you look just like the little girl in the portrait. Come on in, Jon will be out shortly. Would you both like something to drink?”

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“No, no thank you,” said Susan. “We’re excited to see what Mr. Phillips has done.”

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“Oh, I think you’ll love it!”

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Mr. Phillips came out holding the painting, which was wrapped in brown parcel paper. “Hello, again.” Noticing that Jamie had come with her mother, “Hi, Jamie. Let me carefully unwrap this so you can take a look.” Now signaling to Judy, “Dear, can you please get me the small fold-up easel?”

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Before unveiling the picture, Mr. Phillips made sure all the ceiling lights were on. Next, he slowly turned the painting around and placed it on the easel before backing up to reveal the masterpiece.

The likeness and technique were magnificent.

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“How did you…? I’m flabbergasted… This is absolutely stunning!” Susan proclaimed.

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Mr. Phillips had captured each girl brilliantly. The lighting was completely changed from when they had sat, clearly an invention of the artist, who had it coming from high above, instead of from the side. A Persian rug and hanging tapestries in the background were also added to give the picture more depth. Highlights were brought out on their faces and in their chestnut hair. Ultramarine and yellow ochre contrasted to enliven the pattern of their dresses, and a bright vermillion provided a splash of red for their hair bows. Great care had been taken with the detail in their faces, eyes, mouths, and hands. Kristy’s extroverted personality came through in her direct gaze, slightly larger pupils, wide smile, and cheeks made rosy to express optimism and excitement about the future, while Jamie’s expression was more at rest, pensive and inquisitive, looking out beyond the borders of the picture.

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“Well, I am so pleased. Really! Bravo, Mr. Phillips!” Susan said, clapping her hands.

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“Great!” said Mr. Phillips. “That’s what we like to hear.”

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Jamie, of course, had come along to see the unveiling of the picture and experience the studio once again. But she had also arrived with the secret intention of showing Mr. Phillips some of her recent creations. Unbeknownst to her mother, she had brought her work in a portfolio and left it in the car, out of view until the appropriate time arose. As the adults were chatting and taking care of business, Jamie snuck out, ran to the car, and grabbed the portfolio of artwork.

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When she came back in, she was out of breath, as well as a little anxious about showing her work to an accomplished artist like Mr. Phillips. But she didn’t want to miss the opportunity and mustered enough confidence to reveal what she had tucked underneath her arm.

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“Mr. Phillips, I brought some of my drawings to share with you,” she said in her grown-up voice.

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Mr. Phillips was taken aback by the unexpected event, but was immediately charmed by the young novice’s enthusiasm. “Delightful,” he said, looking at both Susan and Judy. “Well, let’s have a look, shall we?”

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Jamie’s mom was equally surprised, not having any idea what Jamie was up to. Impatient as usual, she told her, “We’ve only got a few minutes, hun.”

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Jamie, who was normally quiet and reserved, opened the portfolio on the coffee table and was explosive in her exposition. She began flipping through her artwork with a trembling hand, still a bit out of breath. “I’ve been drawing every day after school. I received a set of colored pencils for my birthday, and I practice every day. Well, I get so much inspiration from nature, but I usually draw from photographs. But I’m starting to also draw from life. Just look at this butterfly I painted! And…”

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Both Mr. Phillips and Judy were very supportive, of course, and encouraged her to continue with her art. Susan was in awe, seeing her timid and somewhat reclusive daughter break out of her shell and express herself with fortitude.

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“… and I was wondering if, maybe, I could be your student, and you could be my teacher. I’m a fast learner, and I promise not to make a mess.”

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This gave Mr. Phillips a chuckle, and putting his hand softly on her shoulder, he said, “Tidiness is certainly a worthy trait, but not a requirement for an artist. However, having good control of the medium is important.”

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“I can do that,” said Jamie.

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Mr. Phillips continued, “I have only a few seats for students, due to the limited size of the studio, and normally, the students I take on already have a good grasp of the basics already. So, let’s make a deal. If you really want to study painting with me, you need to first learn the ABC’s of good draftsmanship, and then we can see about you taking classes with me.”

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“‘Draftsmanship’?” echoed Jamie

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“Yep, drawing. I’d suggest you first take classes with someone who can teach you the fundamentals. Once you understand the basics that include form, perspective, and light and shadow, you’ll be able to quickly advance into drawing more complex forms, such as the face and the figure. Later, you simply layer color on top of what you’ve already learned, and that’s painting.”

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“You make it sound so simple,” remarked Susan.

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“It’s a bit more complicated than that, but Jamie can do it if she has the passion we’re seeing now,” said Judy.

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“Jamie, I want you to sign up for drawing classes and check in with me every couple of months to see how you’re progressing. Does that sound like a good plan to you?” asked Mr. Phillips.

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Jamie looked to her mother for approval and got the nod before replying, “Yeah, sure.” Even though she had hoped to start lessons with Mr. Phillips right away, she seemed happy with the outcome.

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Continue to Part III

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