My Robert Bateman Experience
On Saturday October 15th 2005 I had the pleasure of attending a calendar signing. One of my KidsArt students, Miss Katie Fownes (age 10), submitted her painting titled Ladybug into the Robert Bateman Calendar Contest. Katie's work was one of the paintings chosen to be published in the 2006 calendar.
How exciting this was for me, not only to have one of my students sign her painting in the calendar, but to sit beside Robert Bateman and have a friendly chitty chat while he signed the calendar as well. I was so impressed with how comfortable he made me feel as he asked questions relating to me and my art. He asked, "What school do you teach with?" and I replied, "I teach out of my studio." He said, "Oh, so you're an artist? You look like an artist. That's a compliment!". I replied, "And so taken. Thank you". He asked, "What medium do you work with?" and I replied, "Watercolour mostly". He commented, "Watercolour is a very hard medium to work with. I have done two watercolours. You have to make two hundred mistakes before you get one good painting so you better get busy making mistakes!". After chuckling I asked him, "And what medium do you work with?". He replied, " Acrylics! If I make a mistake I can cover it up!"
Needless to say, this was a banner day!
