Winter Garden Magazine August 2014 | Page 15

At a business meeting over dinner, I shared a story about my Drawing class in high school. As I related the story on how my instructor made me tape a picture of a Volkswagen Beetle upside down on the board, the gentleman on the other side of the table chimed in and finished my story. He explained that turning the picture upside down shut off the left (scientific) brain allowing the right (artistic) brain to take over. The scientific brain knows an upside down car is illogical and left the scene. It was so painfully difficult to draw but as promised, it turned out to be the best picture I ever drew. At that moment, my left brain realized I was sitting across from my Art teacher. As the evening came to a close, he invited me to come visit him at his home where he would show me his inspirational studio and garden. On a sunny afternoon in July, a visit to an old teacher turned into an adventure in artfully explained history. Mr. Reeves indicated he was an old bachelor and to take that into consideration when entering his home. I was ready for anything but I was not expecting to find such an amazing collection of art, history and furnishings including a timeless doll collection belonging to his mother. His home was full of history covering the life of Rod Reeves. He shared d