When we left Agato in January, I made a promise to come back to color with the children of friends who own my favorite coffee/chocolate shop in Otavalo. Arriving here in Ecuador last year with 4 trunks as well as my suitcases, I had the idea of sharing both beading and art supplies, and perhaps even make a bit of money to assist in living here. During the first 6 months, my time was dedicated to the book, so although I continued to draw, finding a way to make money at it did not arise. Realizing the option for finding a more permanent home was also not in the cards, I felt it would be a benefit for me to downsize as much as possible. Sharing all the crayons, colouring pages and beads with Lucy, Fernando and their family was for me a great decision.
I kept enough supplies to keep me busy, with enough extra to continue sharing, as I did with Maria and the children here. There have been many hours spent colouring or beading with the family here in Intag as the months go by. Lucy and Fernando made me promise to come back to see their children because they were so excited to have all the colouring supplies and the children wanted to thank me in person. Almost a year has passed, and at long last I was able to coordinate our colouring date.
aren’t they precious?!
Qori and Thiago arrived with their father, coming straight from school. We had a small window as they arrived at around 12:30 and I would need to leave to catch my bus by 2:00ish. When they saw me they ran up to me and hugged me, something to fill my heart with great happiness. We got to work straight away, the crayons and pages spread across the table in their parents Coffee Shop. Muyu’s was the first coffee shop I went into just one day after arriving in Ecuador. I wandered in because of the amazing display of chocolates seen in the window and through the open door. The walls inside lined with an amazing variety of chocolates, coffee and tea. Their focus is on organic, fair trade, so of course I was happy to support them, and Patrick and I made several visits to their store while we were together, and living in close proximity. Besides being such nice people, Fernando spoke some english, Lucy, not as much, but they both made an effort for us. In turn, we did try to speak spanish for them, we just were not very good at it. But I was so impressed with this young family, comfortable in their presence, feeling somehow as if I had known them for years.
The time seemed to fly by, and before I knew it, I was racing to catch my bus arriving just minutes before it departed. I sat down, quite out of breath from trying to walk fast through the crowded streets, carrying my heavy bags. Riding home, I felt so grateful for having the ability to share something of myself, by giving this family the artwork. I wondered if by doing so, I had stirred an interest in their hearts to follow a similar path. The greatest compliment received to date was from the mother of one of my son’s friends from grade 2, so many years ago. Colby always had lots of girlfriends, he just seemed to understand them and they were drawn to him. One of those girl friends had seen a picture I had drawn of a bunny done as a Easter gift for their teacher. Her mother later told me on a day when she picked her daughter up from our home, that because of my drawing, her daughter had decided to be an artist. It is interesting to realize that learning I had inspired this young girl, also encouraged me to keep drawing myself.
During that time, I had no designated space to draw, just working on our dining room table, putting everything away when it was time to get supper going. It would be the following year I would receive my art table, and professional drawing supples as a Christmas gift from Patrick. We had by then moved into a bigger home, and I now had my very own space allowing me to begin discovering what I was capable of. No one could be more surprised than me, to see what began to appear on my drawing table over the coming years. To this day, I am fascinated by this part of me which surfaced, that young girl’s desire to draw, a thought which pops into my head many times as I explore my own inspiration. Today as I write this, I do wonder if she followed her heart and is now an artist.
I would be returning to Otavalo on the coming Saturday invited to share with this family yet another special day, El Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead). Quite a week for me, starting with my visit to Maria and Javier’s, this day with the children and ending the week with a special family event. I count my blessings, my journey here has given me such wonderful opportunities and amazing gifts. To share time with people such as I did this day, was something I would have had great difficulty doing in Canada. We must never underestimate our ability to change, overcome our fears, and move on. We all have more strength than we realize. For those of you who have similar difficulties, it is my hope by sharing this fascinating journey I have found myself on, you can see possibility in yourselves.
Lucas Chudleigh
the lion was the first picture drawn on my new art table…..