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The first time I walked into Diane's Art, over a year and a half ago, to inquire about Mark's classes, I went to do just that, inquire.  If it weren't for him asking me, "There's no better time than now, is there?" then I don't know if I would have returned.

Mark’s overall positive attitude and faith, has not only lead me in art but in everyday life that you can be what you put your heart into and achieve what you set out to do.  I never thought that so many shades could create such a palate of color and that I could even create anything myself, but I have.  The many hours and classes and sharing amongst all of his students with their uplifting, always positive attitudes, has even given me the courage to just start attempting oil painting, and I’m genuinely excited about it.  We all have a place and reason to exist, with his sharing of art it’s completed a little more of that puzzle of what I am meant to do in life. 

From the first “heron” in colored pencil to, “I usually don’t have my students create a drawing of a family member, but I knew you could do it,” as he stated after I was done with my first art piece, just shows the faith he has in everyone. (Since if he had told me before hand, I never would have attempted it.)  And even when I can’t remember shade, deep shade, light, highlight, I know picturing him glide across the floor in the “Menendez Fox-Trot” during the portrait class will help my pencil/brush glide across the paper in the appropriate order.  I am so proud of what I have learned and created and have filled a void that I have had from a very young age when I only pencil sketched and dreamed of taking “art” classes one day.        

His talent and patience does not only extend to adults but to children. Like my two girls who have taken his class and marvel at how “he’s such an artist who really taught me how to draw like a photograph and not just stick figures.” 

Mark, I wish you so much success in your future adventures!  You have a gift and talent that I wish all could experience especially when people say they can’t do something.  There’s a little bit of art, creativity or whatever you want to call it in all of us, but you have the right tools – compassion, faith, patience and caring - to bring it out of anyone who dares to take the time and believe in themselves just a little bit.  I guess it falls along the lines out of Peter Pan and I think I can I think I can, I can, I can fly, I can fly…..I can draw!  Thanks!  And I’ll be following and waiting for your first book, signed of course. 

 Debbie Schiffmacher