It’s National Teacher Appreciation Day… Sooo I’d like to share a story about how my 5th grade teacher, Rich Krosch, unknowingly helped guide me into a career in art.

Circa 1985 – 5th Grade:

Mr. Krosch found great joy in torturing his class by assigning a multi-page short story, it was to be a fully bound book with an illustrated cover. So as you know I am son of Bearclaw, which meant I wrote about catfishing. I don’t remember the story I wrote, I’m sure I did just enough in order to get that nonsense out of my way. A few days later, Rich, er I mean Mr. Krosch was walking around the room handing back our stories. I waited in anticipation for my book, would it be a C or a C-? But Mr. Krosch did not hand me back my book, instead he bolted to the front of the room, book in hand, held it up and announced something to effect of my cover being the best he’s ever seen. I’ll be damned if a few people in the room didn’t emit “wow” noises after witnessing my color pencil drawing. I had never been “wowed” before. Honestly I didn’t care much for it at all when it was happening, but I really thought a lot about it when I got home. I paged through my sketchbook and wondered if I was actually good at this weird thing I keep doing. You know – locking myself in my room to draw pictures that nobody would ever see.

When I returned to school my friend Hogie asked if I could draw a Green Bay logo on his notebook since he, “really wanted a Packers notebook but got this stupid plain green one instead.” I handed him back his notebook featuring an entire Packers helmet and he handed me the quarters he had in his pocket. Within a few days half of the class adorned their favorite football team on their notebooks and I had earned a full cup of quarters. I was officially a professional artist 🤣

Now, would I have kept drawing and eventually became a graphic designer without this happening? Sure, of course, how else was I going to get out of working for a living?

But man, I gotta tell ya, when someone other than your parents pump you up over something you didn’t even realize you were doing, it’s really eye opening. Especially for a shy introverted weirdo 5th grader who never would have offered up his skill on purpose.

Probably should have told you this story in person, Rich.

I guess it’s your turn to be embarrassed.

Thank you.