Jake the Poet

Doug LaRue

c 1985 • pencil on 60lb. Strathmore sketch paper
12 x 17 • SN# J-85-01

I was 19 years old and working on my first assignment in a drawing 101 class at the university while studying Architecture.  I started the assignment in class, finished it over night and turned it in the next day. The class was busy reviewing 3 dimensional perspective in our books when the professor threw my drawing at my open book and snarled, "yeah sure, see me after class!" The sketch had a big red "F" on it.  Not waiting till after class, I spoke up and asked what the problem was with my drawing.  He mocked me and berated me in front of the class for having the gall to turn in work that I could not possibly have done myself. He declared that cheaters don't belong in his class and was expressing his opinion that I should change my major course of study to something less... class mates laughed, I interrupted him as I stood up and looked him straight in the eye and casually reiterated that I created the drawing.  "OK then do it again right now, draw someone in here right now if you really can!"  he proclaimed as if he had made a "gotcha move". people giggled, I said ok.  He went back to teaching 3d perspective techniques for about 15 minutes then smugly approached my desk loudly demanding to look at my work in progress.  He snatched it from me then hesitated he asked, who is this?  I answered, "you".   He put the drawing down and grumbled just loud enough for the class to hear, "well maybe you did draw it." He went back to his desk and started rummaging around in the drawers, pulled out a portfolio case and began looking through it, after a few moments he said, I still want to see you after class. I was naturally curious as to what he would say to me after class.  He didn't say anything about art, he asked me to lunch.

p.s. They had no policy on allowing people with advanced skills or talents to place out of any classes so if you wanted to take any art classes you were required to start at the beginning. I did learn a lot of technical ways to pull out accurate shadows in 3d environments in analogue. Graphics and Architectural computer software was in its infancy at this point.

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