I think that I always knew I wanted to become an artist. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t drawing or painting pictures. My oldest sister and my brother were artistic, and watching them draw fascinated me. They had many different art supplies around the house. Boxes of pastels, little ink bottles and pens were very appealing.
My parents and friends soon saw that I had more than a passing interest in art. It came to define much of my image. Relatives gave me art-related birthday gifts. At school I became “the kid who could draw,” a unique distinction, like “brainiest” or “best athlete”.
As I got a little older, I began copying pictures: cartoons, comic books, and magazine illustrations.
My third-grade class wrote essays on what we wanted to be when we grew up. To me it was obvious. We read them aloud, and I told about the types of paintings I would some day try. I’d have turtles with paintbrushes tied to their backs walking around on a big sheet of paper. Or I’d fill squirt guns with different colored paints and shoot at the canvas. I actually tried this with friends! Well, it sounded like a good idea.
One of the only discouraging childhood experiences about my artwork happened in the fourth grade. During study time I was drawing a picture. My teacher took it away and wrote an angry note home to my mother. “David would rather be drawing pictures than doing his work!!!” I couldn’t believe it, three exclamation points. School “art classes” were pretty uninspiring. Art never seemed to be taken as seriously as other subjects.
In the eighth grade, a big career day was held. Months before, we wrote suggestions for careers we wanted to hear about. On the big day, guest speakers from many fields came to talk, but there wasn’t one that came close to an art-related field.
In high school it actually sank in that I was going to be an artist. I already knew. I’d always known. My parents were excited about my choice, too. As I looked into art schools, I felt like doors were being thrown wide open. Until then my art was a private thing, but at art school I found a place where everyone as “the kid who could draw.”
4. The author became interested in art because of _________.
A.his parents’ wish |
B.some schools’ appeal |
C.his family members’ influence |
D.some experts’ suggestion |
5. In the fourth grade, the author _________.
A.began copying pictures |
B.drew with squirt guns |
C.was discouraged by the teacher |
D.got suggestions from guest speakers |
6. From the last paragraph, we can learn that the author _________.
A.thanked his parents very much |
B.went into a new world of art |
C.was still the only kid who could draw |
D.stopped learning art finally |
7. The story inspires people to _________.
A.stick to their dreams |
B.treasure what they have |
C.obey the natural rules |
D.choose their career earlier |