This is my Nepal; the reason for my return— the kids at Shree Mangal Dvip. For a third summer, a third monsoon, it has been my privilege to share my love of art with these wonderful young artists— and thanks to the success of the students' exhibition last year, I've got a new group of eager artists. When I first arrived at SMD in the summer of 2010, if I remember correctly, we were a little group of about twelve to fourteen kids. This summer, we are squeezing over thirty kids onto the benches of the cafeteria's balcony to learn about line, value, and colour. I am continually overwhelmed by their eagerness, dedication, and talent. It is my goal to get these kids sketching their experiences, and expressing something of themselves, to use art to tell their story and bring them joy.
Thanks to the generosity of Laloran Sketchbooks in Portugal, the donations of Kim Marohn and the Paris Urban Sketchers, Orling Dominguez, Jim Richards, and Cathy Johnson, we've got beautiful handmade sketchbooks and a variety of art supplies in these excited hands. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you from the kids. Stay tuned— I will be posting photos throughout the summer of our work.
These kids are my home.
