I have actually kept in touch with a grade school teacher of mine for almost thrity years. This morning I recieved an email and a call from her family telling me of her passing. She was an art teacher whose bright outlook and love of children has been a major influence in my life. I did this as a tribute to all she taught me and hundreds of children in her career. I hope this brings to mind those who have contributed to the person you are today. "It is not our great monumnets, nor the battles we have fought, but rather the memories we leave behind that are our true immortality."

What a lovely sentiment, and a moving tribute. You have my most heartfelt condolences. Paul

I am sorry for your loss, Ikyoto... Jack

Hi Folks! That's a wonderful gesture, Ikyoto. I hope my former students will think as much of me. Peter (Dr Zik)

We all of us have one person in our lives who touches our essence somehow. This is a lovely tribute to that person. Kate

Your work celebrates your teacher's inspiration, and in your efforts lies her memorial. If this teacher touched your life so your work touches others. I am sure your teacher smiles every time you create!

You're very lucky to have had a great art teacher, Ikyoto. I HATED art class. I had the same teacher every damn year, this fatassed foul-tempered trailer park sow whose idea of art was making clay ashtrays. She failed ANYONE who made something that wasn't completely mundane, she stunk of hairspray and Virginia Slims, and had the most HORRIBLE beehive hairdo you could imagine in your worst John Waters nightmare. I imagine she had one of those damned clocks on her wall, the jewel-encrusted cat with the eyes that rocked back and forth. Thankfully, she was obese enough that I'm sure she's now long-dead from her excessive nicotine-and-pork-rind intake. In a way, she eventually did me a favor I guess. I learned that the best way for me to determine artistic merit was by asking myself, "Would Mrs.Davidson hate this?" If she would, it was probably art. But I digress. My point? Consider yourself lucky to have had her influence.

Hi Folks! Dr.Legume, you should write a book--you seem to have a helluva lot of stories to tell! (;-) Peter (Dr Zik)

Yeah, BOOK, BOOK, BOOK, BOOK, BOOK, BOOK.......... Seriously: RIP Iky, you have talent, and Ms. Murphy nurtured that talent and helped bring you to where you are today so that, we can enjoy the fruits of your labors. Without your teacher's effort, we would probably not have your art today. My condolences. geep