andrea's apprentice

It has occurred to me (many times, actually) that Dr. Schuler knew what I was capable of before I did. I'm referring, of course, to the world of technical illustrations. Last year, I did not even know what he was talking about, but he brought me to Israel anyways and I was forced to quickly learn what was required of an in-scale, accurate drawing of a wall or floor, or whatever. This year, he presented new challenges when he asked me to draw what I couldn't even see--the stalibate (kind of like a sidewalk of large paving stones)--which only had parts of it visible, the rest remaining hidden under layers of dirt that had not yet been removed. And in the time I spent there this year, there was also the square that had about 3 different walls inside, all from different times and made for who-knows-what purposes and it was the silliest, most random conglomeration of rocks I had ever seen...but I had to draw it! However, now that I'm gone, Dr. Schuler has presented the greatest technical illustrating challenge of them all...leaving behind an apprentice.

Before I got on the bus to leave on Saturday, Dr. Schuler stopped me..."Andrea! I need your graph paper and bungee cord, I'm going to have to do the drawings!" I told him I could just stay...but he insisted that I just give him the materials needed. I dug through my suitcase and recovered graph paper, rulers, chaining pins (for tying bungee cord to) and bungee cord (for making straight lines) and handed them off to...my apprentice. Dr. Schuler will copy my method of drawing, make--as he put it--very bad drawings, supplemented by lots of pictures, and then hand off to me when I return to St. Paul to fix. Via e-mail, he has already reported that he has done one drawing, of the street, that he says when I see it will be sure to make me wince.

It's ok, Dr. Schuler...one does not learn to be a technical illustrator overnight...

Guess I'll just have to return next year, eh?