I was a funny art student in high school. I had it as an elective for four years, and my fourth year was Studio Art AP, though I never did turn in a portfolio. I had an issue with doing assigned projects. I would generally do my own thing (narcissistic self-portraits, mostly) for the couple weeks we were supposed to be working on an assignment, then I would throw something together at the last minute for a grade. In art, you get graded for effort, so I made straight Cs. Of course, procrastination was the name of the game during my entire high school experience.
I took this one home the night before it was due and got it done on the coffee table in a little over two hours. I remember the Seinfeld episode that was on that night. Kenny Roger's Chicken. Favorite episode. I remember all the black shavings I left on the table. It got me into my first "art show" at The Great Frame Up, a now defunct frame shop on Rand Road.
Funny thing about those "art shows" at that place. Our teachers selected the works from the students. It wasn't as if it appeared in a gallery. We did get free framing though, which was badass. But anyway, I usually submitted a stack, and they would inevitably pick the one I pulled out of my ass. One year, I drew a chalk self-portrait in five minutes and the fixative wasn't even dry when I submitted it. I'll post that one next time I get to my dad's place. He's got it over there.
Another work that I got into the show for my senior year won best in show, and so the honor was they fucking lost it! It was sent to be hung in Congresswoman Jan Schakowski's office for a few weeks, and it never came back.
Gosh, I feel like this is a very braggy post. I apologize. Here's Abe, a better man than myself.
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