When asked if there was a moment she knew she would be an artist, Rhonda Grochowski's voice takes on a faraway, dreamy quality. "I think I was seven... I think I probably wanted a puppy." Rhonda believes that yearning, whether it be for a puppy or something less tangible, is essential to artistic growth; that it is part of our human nature and feeds our creativity.

Puppies aside, Rhonda followed her yearning into a B.A. in Visual Art from the University of Western Ontario. Drawing is her strength and has earned her several Best Drawing awards at the Algoma Fall Festival.

In addition to creating her own works, Rhonda offers group and individual workshops for children and adults through her home-based art business Learning to Draw on Coulson Avenue. She began drawing instruction classes in her living room in 1996. She works alongside her students, finding it the best way to share techniques and answer questions.

Unexpectedly, she's discovered that, for some, this type of art instruction is almost a type of therapy. "I think some students, particularly children with emotional or learning disabilities, find this type of instruction to be a gentle training compared to something like piano instruction. They have a chance to really express themselves and enjoy the one-on-one attention."

"Compared to other media," says Rhonda Grochowski, "drawing is the most personal approach, revealing much about the artist. It disciplines the mind and enlightens us to whatever we're working on."

Remembering her own childhood yearnings, Rhonda tries to remain sensitive to a child's favourite subject matter, but insists on the disciplines of calligraphy and perspective. Her students explore line and value drawing, facial structure, still life, design principles, and great artists through history.

Through teaching, Rhonda draws inspiration for her own pieces, rediscovering things. Will she continue to do both? Absolutely. It goes back to yearning, she explains. "It's the kind of course I would have appreciated all those years ago when I first began to experience the longing to draw."

Rhonda is now teaching art and music at a missionary school in Uganda.

Drawings Copyright 2000, 2001, 2003 by Rhonda Grochowski

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