Family was Orville's passion so he drew his first grandson, Andrew. (above)	TRIBUTE to An Amazing Artist & the Man Who Helped Me Find and Fulfill My Life Purpose Orville Thompson entered my very first So You Thought You Couldn't Draw? class 21 years ago. His work was pitiful but he had the determination of a pit bull. He plied me with questions and went home and practiced what I told him. Within a short period of time his work from transformed Wimpy to WOW!
Coolest place in the house by Orville Thompson c 1998	Family dog by Orville Thompson c 1998
Orville's work was featured on the cover of the workbook that his questions helped create. The After drawing is of his beloved daugher Suzanne.	Orville learned to see like an artist. When he was delivering Meals on Wheels in Rancho Santa Fe, this window caught his eye. His colored pencil rendering was featured on the cover of a top national art catalog.

 

Tribute to Orville Thompson

An Exceptional Man and Unlikely Artist

 

How do you speak of someone's far reaching impact on your life with a keyboard?

Language is too limited to describe Orville.

How do you tell the mighty force that a quiet, gentle spirit has had on your life?

I'll begin by describing our experiences together because that's how his influence began.

 

Orville and I shared a dream. Orville wanted to learn to draw and I thought

I could teach anyone.

He showed up in my first class for the 'non-artist' 21 years ago and I thought,

 

"Oh my! This man's art is so bad I bet it never even made it to his mom's fridge."

 

Still I sensed that his passion and fervor would help Orville succeed so I set out

to devise a specialized system to help him.

His feedback helped me come up with a plan that has been successfully

followed by thousands.

I don't think he even realized how much he contributed to my curriculum

with his long lists of questions. They helped me fashion courses that

were the answers to the brand new artist's needs.

I've never seen a more persistent hard working student; willing to redo

and redo till he got it right.

Orville not only learned to draw but his art ended up on the cover of

national magazines, in a full page spread of "The Washington Post"

on TV, on the cover of books and more importantly

finally landed on his family's fridge... or at least their walls. (O:

Orville's first love was his family and it showed in his work;

• Colored Pencil drawing of his beloved  grandson Andrew
• Colored Pencil drawing of his beloved daughter Suzy
• The family cat
• The family dog.

 

Orville learned to see like an artist and when he was delivering

Meals on Wheels, he noticed a beautiful window in Rancho Santa Fe.

His fabulous colored pencil drawing ended up on the cover of a

national Art catalog.

 

I have to admit the publicity was my idea. I was just like a proud mom;

I wanted the world to see his startling progress. Orville was shy and

reserved about his art.

 

Once I asked him if he would appear on Oprah with me and

panic swept his shy face.

 

He said, "I couldn't do that; I'd probably wet my pants."

 

I'm babbling about details that put us together but the truth is

that while we worked on art, Orville became family.

My dad had passed away at 46 and Orville embodied all the wholesome

qualities of my dad.

 

Orville was a quiet, strong presence in my life, a powerful force

who supported and encouraged me each step of the way.

 

His Christmas letter sits here on my desk. I had planned to answer it

but busyness got in the way... gives me pause thinking about what

I'm allowing to stand between me and the friends who should be

at the top of my list.

 

Someday doesn't always come.

 

I take comfort in the fact that now I can speak to Orville without email,

the phone or the post office.

 

I can just look up.

 

I'm sure he's wandering around in the Heavenly art dept.

and showing his beloved wife Dottie how to draw too.

 

 

They are both whole and healthy now and with our Lord.

 

I'll miss your presence on this earth Orville because the planet

needs more decent, godly men like you. But I will never lose you

because what you planted in my heart will stay with me always,

even to eternity because what we invest in people lasts forever.

 

Thanks Orville. Your life made a big difference in my life and

by the ripple effect you touched millions.