Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1144096
8 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | AUGUST 2019 By Rob Kelman, Mixed Media Art Instructor August Agoncillo is a new resident to our community, having moved here only six months ago. While reading the Breeze, he saw that art classes were being offered twice a week. He joined the Mixed Media Art Class five months ago. I quickly learned a lot about August. All new students are required to draw three things: an elephant, a landscape and a small building. Instead of one drawing of each subject, August drew two of each! Not only was he prolific, it was easy to see that he had a lot of talent. Naturally, I asked him about his artistic talents and boy, did I get an extremely interesting story. August grew up in the Philippines in a conservative family. His parents noticed early on that he really enjoyed drawing. Throughout his schooling, his mastery of the use of a pencil to paper, drawing people and faces excelled. He had dreams of becoming a prominent artist. Unfortunately, his parents had different aspirations for him. They told August that, "artists don't make much money. Become a doctor!" After much thought, he decided to go to medical school in the United States. Most of August's medical experience was as an organ transplant surgeon in Seattle, WA. Now retired, he finally has the time to draw again. At the end of one of my classes, August asked me if he could take my picture. I had no idea what his intention was. I was shocked at the next class when he presented me with a drawing of myself. He knocked my socks off! The likeness is remarkable. After that, August started doing amazing portraits of the other students in the class. He has the gift to really "see" the subject. He has a unique style which expresses different moods and actions. I look forward to seeing what he does next and to guide him on his artistic journey. RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT Trading Scalpels For Pencils