Wombat's Art

Jay-R, who everyone fondly calls Wombat, is a batchmate of mine in the Australian account I currently work for. He's goofy, loud, friendly and very talented. Recently, I was able to have a chat with him. I noticed that he was drawing this amazing picture on the left while taking calls. I was just flabbergasted! I mean, when I take calls, I also doodle a lot... tally marks, flowers, my name, cartoon faces... but nothing like this. I told him how amazing his drawing is and that not everyone has this kind of talent and he said, "That's exactly what I told my mother. Unfortunately, she didn't allow me to take Fine Arts in college."

I felt bad about that. I mean, drawing is a skill that for me is more natural than acquired. Yes, you can hone it by taking formal classes but nothing beats being born with it, just like my good friend, Herb who has been creating fantastic sketches since we were in grade school! Just check out her Pencilpox website and be amazed by all her creations. Fortunately for her, she also had the chance to really do what she loves doing best apart from just being gifted. She studied Fine Arts and now, she has all the wonderful opportunities, travelling here and there, sharing her skills and talents while mingling with other creative minds.

Though I believe that in life, we do make our own paths, I can't help but wonder... If early on in our life, we are somehow led to a certain path by the people who had control over us, wouldn't it be inevitable for us to take it as our first option and make it our own path? If his mother let Wombat follow his dreams, where could he be now? I doubt he'd be taking calls beside me! I only hope that it isn't too late for him to make his path as an artist. He's got talent -- and in my humble opinion, it'll be a real shame if he can't share it to the world the way Herb is able to share hers.