Hey Rasti!

I am so sorry to have missed coming to the class, between work and the holidays I couldn't manage to get there in time.  Evenso, I really wanted you to know how much you influenced me in such a positive way pertaining to art and in my life in general!

My taking your first class was a leap in faith for me, I won't bore you with the details but, just to say that it was something I wanted to do for so long but there were significant roadblocks in my life.  I have chronic pain due to illness and I was not sure if I could sit still for that long and my history of trauma (child abuse). When you have experienced this, you do not have very much self-esteem and your ability to handle criticism is well challenging.

You were encouraging in every step of the way! When you critique your students it was with that encouragement, helping the student to better their skills. And with that  you helped me find that I missed drawing so very much! And I found when I drew all my pain was left behind in those moments of creation. It was and IS wonderful! Finding I could actually do this opened up a whole world to me. Evening meeting people in class, Sean ? ( I think that was his name) he was a diver and talked about moving overseas, made me think it was not too late for me to try living again. SOOOO  I went back to work, and found a new hobby, hiking.  I went on my first trip to the Smoky Mountains last year, and managed to hike to some of the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen.   I bought some kayaks and a new car (believe me that is a big one, had an old junker for 20 years!) and I have other trips planned. 

So I hope I have not bored you with details, but just want you to know how you affect others' lives with your teaching.  I wish you the absolute best things in life and in your new job!! Give your pups a hug for me.  Oh, and I adopted a new puppy and in the midst of training him, or is he training me? LOL   

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!