Every once in a while, he surprises me ...

Jona has decided to participate in a local art show!

I must admit, I was more than a bit surprised. This is the kid who claims that he can't draw anything! But the opportunity came to submit a piece of art into the local IMPACT art show, highlighting children's mental health challenges, and Jona choose to create a painting.

Jona hasn't painted in years! I have a few of his old grade school paintings, framed and hanging in my office. But since the 5th grade, he's opted out of this sort of thing.

At the first art workshop, he seemed to be intimidated by his surroundings. Can't be easy being the "new guy" in an after-school art program, and having all the other kids know their way around the art studio! But at the second workshop, he fit right in and really got into creating a painting of a tree ... a bleak, stark, leaf-less, black tree against a mottled gray and ice blue background. And then he took the beginning 7 stanzas of his old poem (the VERY FIRST post on this blog!), tore them out, and added them to his work.

I'll post pics after the show (May 3rd thru 9th)

It's quite simple, very rustic ... but awfully effective! Most definately a piece that evokes an emotional reaction.

And, when asked to explain his work, Jona simply stated: This is what life looks like, after your Dad dies ...