They continued to ask questions. I asked if they were interested in art. The little boy, named Kifer replied, "Yeah, but I don't take any classes." The girl, named 'LayLay'(That's how you say it, I wasn't gonna begin to think how to spell it. Simple names often have silent letters), asked me if I would be able to help with a sign for the block party that was to be that following weekend. I said yeah. She said, "This is what I want. I want it to say Lexington Ave. Block Party and I want all the kids to put their hand prints on it. Can you do that?" I say, "Hold up. I said I would help YOU do it." She looked shocked. I said "I am around this week, when do you want to do it?" She replied "Can you do it tomorrow?" I said yes, between 6- 6:30 I can be home.
I so I head to work the following morning, buying paints and brushes on lunch. Come on, mess up my paints and brushes? Psssshh- So I come home and wait. It's starting toget dark and they haven't come over. So I go outside and see Kifer and ask, "are ya'll still gonna do it?" He ran to get 'LayLay'. She came out and was like, oh I forgot. And I am about to go to my aunt's house. I say "Well I can't help any other day." She looked as if I was slightly inconveniencing her. She left and came back with friends. other girls her age and more kids. Even a few toddlers.
They pitched a fit when the mom took the paint brushes from them. This was gonna be a fun night. I was thinking, "What have I signed up for?"
We begin. Pictures as follows.
I told them to not get any paint on the sidewalks or somebody was gonna be scrubbing...
As you see it wasn't Kifer.
Fell in love with this kid. He is a an artist too turns out. His grandmother was singing his praises. I am gonna have him come and hang out in the studio with me from time to time. Super cool kid.
It was a fun night. Didn't expect to do this at all, but it was fun. Rodney 'luh the kids...
-R
4 comments:
That is so cool that you are gonna hang with Keifer...I think you will make a difference in his life! More people should be like you.
Hi Rodney,
I'm Amy. I am a wife, mother, and artist living in OR. I saw a painting of yours, went home and did some research on you and saw the body of your work. Amazing. Speechless. It really touched me and spoke to my inner desire to paint again. It's been dormant for 22 years now. Every person in my family is an artist, and they are all in acyrilic or oil. I used to be in acyrilic, but have currently been doing scrapbooking(paper,andsticker lines for retail). I've stayed away from paint for a long time, and I am excited to be so moved by your art. With your permission, I would like to start by recreating a painting I was inspired by in the hopes that It will take me somewhere of my own. I'm rusty, and it seems like a good starting point. With permission of course . . . Thank you for your expression, and inspiration. Amy
That's great man! If you're ever in Los Angeles, it'd be great for you to visit the Watts Towers and speak to some kids there about art. It can be just as spontaneous cause there's always kids hanging around the art center there.
Keep it up!
The world needs more of this.
Way to go, Rodney! The kids won't forget, you know.
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