I have always had a impulse to draw. At age 21 a friend gave me a set of paints and from that moment I began the long pursuit of learning and practicing. I took classes with lots of different artists during my 20’s as well as attending university and TAFE college. However I really owe a deep gratitude to David B Wilson for his teachings and mentor-ship. David Wilson taught life drawing and tonal painting. He was a very thoughtful man and had a rare ability to inspire his students to develop a thirst for knowledge. Often, during a class, he would hand me an old book like ‘The Tempest’ by Shakespeare or a CD of say, Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight sonata’. With a sparkle in his eye. Then the next time I’d see him he would ask what I though about it. And then he’d just listen. He was igniting a spark within me that grew into a passion for all art forms and , for me in particular, where Painting as a discipline sat within this spectrum. Its importance as a form of expressing humanity. I learned that an artists role in society was equally as important as his technique or skill. This role is summed up the the poem by Pablo Neruda, ‘Poets Obligation’ . Wilson’s approach to teaching was amazing. His vision for each student was entirely unique and I learned a lot about patience by watching him with people. Some of his students became writers, teachers, and artists in different fields such as botanical illustration. He was a great teacher and I was lucky to find him when I did. His influence is instrumental in the way that I go about my work even today.
To be continued…
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