Offering Inspiration

Girl Scout Troop 4144

I was asked to speak to the Girl Scouts in my neighborhood last week. They were working on an art badge and needed to interview a female artist. When the troop leader asked if I would come and speak to them, of course I said yes. This opportunity was special to me because I had recently had the Cub Scouts visit me in my studio, but also because I was a Girl Scout Myself.

When I went to visit the girls, I dug out my old Girl Scout vest, which thanks to my Mother I still have. I noticed on the back there were patches from the sleep away camps I used to attend with my sister and even a Cookie Time patch from 1978. I was a Brownie and then a Girl Scout all the way through middle school. What a nice bunch of memories that vest brought to me.

I talked to the girls about art, I answered their prepared questions about what inspires me, what my favorite subject matter is and what my favorite color is, then we all looked at the art assignments they had completed in order to earn their badge.

This was really a nice opportunity for me to give back to the Girl Scouts and my community. When they asked me what made me want to go to college for art I told them that I loved art and it was one of the few things I was really good at in my youth. I also stressed to them that it was in fact my high school art teacher who encouraged me to explore art as a career and even helped me prepare the entire portfolio section of my college application. Without this amazing teacher in my life, I may never have ended up where I am today.

I am always pleased when given a chance to offer inspiration to young people in art.