| Formerly titled "When Should An Artist NOT Sign His | | | | I had already taught him to sign his artwork, because all |
| Work". | | | | Artists signed their work. |
| I was faced with this question some years ago. | | | | We had pictures of Darkwing Duck, and every |
| Allow me to back up for just a minute. Years ago, I | | | | cartoon super hero, pasted all over our refrigerator |
| bought one of Zig Ziglar's books on how to raise | | | | door. Then something happened. I particularly noticed |
| positive kids. I first bought this book because, like many | | | | one picture he drew with a pencil (not a crayon) |
| fathers, I wanted to know how to raise and discipline | | | | before he signed it. The picture was of " Pinocchio," |
| my son when the time came. Little did I know that this | | | | and he drew it while looking at the cover of one of his |
| book didn't deal so much with the actions of the son, | | | | movies. I instantly fell in love with it and didn't want him |
| but more with the actions of the parents! It wasn't long | | | | to ruin it by signing it. (Remember, his handwriting hadn't |
| before I started exercising certain techniques in that | | | | had as much practice as his art ). |
| book, and noticed they were actually molding my son | | | | So, I asked him if I could have that picture. With a big |
| right before my eyes. | | | | smile on his face he saw that I really liked that one, so |
| My son was not into drugs, didn't stay out all night and | | | | he gave it to me. I immediately placed it in a folder that |
| really never gave his mother and I any problems. | | | | I used for work. |
| OhÂ…did I mention that my son was only 5 years old | | | | Kyle knew that I carried that folder to work every day. |
| at the time? What you are about to read might | | | | He would often ask to see that picture and it would |
| surprise you, but I feel that it very well could inspire | | | | always be within arm's reach of where I was sitting. |
| some of you as parents, not to mention some of your | | | | Over the years, I would constantly be looking at that |
| children. | | | | picture when he was in the room. As a matter of fact, |
| Because my son was an only child, he learned to | | | | I recently decided to scan that picture and put it on the |
| pacify himself by either watching TV or doodling on | | | | Internet for even you to see. I never got around to |
| paper. We made sure he had all the favorite cartoon | | | | having it framed and matted -- I guess I must have |
| movies children liked to watch. It wasn't long before | | | | known I'd be using it! |
| we noticed that our son would watch TV for only a | | | | Why did I put it on the Internet? Because I still want him |
| short time before he would go find his toys, which | | | | to know how much that picture means to me. |
| were the small characters in his movies. He would | | | | One other thing I forgot to mention. He's now 18 years |
| place these toys in front of him with crayon and paper | | | | old. He's never let a day go by without drawing |
| close by, and continue to watch the movies while | | | | something. He began drawing what I always wanted |
| slowly trying to draw the characters. | | | | him to draw, "pencil portraits" and back when he was |
| One of the techniques that Zig Ziglar mentioned in this | | | | only 14 years old. |
| book -- I'll have to be honest here, its the only | | | | One of his first pencil portraits was during the |
| technique that really stood out in my mind; I can't | | | | Presidential debate between Al Gore and George W. |
| remember the others, but I still have that book -- was | | | | Bush. Kyle came home from school with a brochure |
| to praise the child. But wait! It was to praise the child to | | | | he got during class as they were discussing the |
| other adults in such a way that the child just happened | | | | debate. He sat down and drew a very good likeness |
| to be within hearing range. It's one thing to receive | | | | of what would later become the President of the |
| praise yourself, but to overhear your parents bragging | | | | United States. You can see the drawing of George W. |
| on you to people on the phone or in the other room -- | | | | Bush on Kyle's website.... |
| it seems to have a far greater impact. I think we all | | | | Many parents have shared with us how they've |
| can relate to that, even as adults. | | | | showed their young children -- Kyle's website, to help |
| Back to the title of this little story. "When should an | | | | further inspire their own children's talents. Please feel |
| Artist NOT sign his work?" My answer is when he's | | | | free to drop Kyle a note in care of my email address : |
| only 7 years old, and his handwriting is larger than the | | | | and I'll see that he gets every email commenting on his |
| picture he just finished. See, as we continued to praise | | | | artwork. We welcome all comments because, yes we |
| Kyle for his artwork, it wasn't long before he was | | | | were able to raise such a positive kid and we still |
| calling himself an Artist, (he believed it with his whole | | | | continue to find ways to let him know it. |
| heart) because he overheard us call him that to others. | | | | |