Tuesday, June 16, 2020
By KEITH RYAN CARTWRIGHT
Rutherford County Schools
Drake Goers like to draw.
Check that, he loves drawing.
Back in March, after students were sent home from school because of the coronavirus pandemic, the 12-year-old from Blackman Middle drew a picture of his family dog. He really enjoyed drawing Farley and, for that matter, other pets too.
His mother, April Goers, shared a photograph of the drawing with family members. One by one, they started texting photos of their pets for Drake to draw. Then came friends of the family and now the neighbors.
“I like them sitting forward and looking at the photo because then you can get the eyes and like the whole picture,” Drake said. “The eyes really help the picture like pop and distinguishes the pets.”
He’s drawn a couple dozen pictures, which started with eight orders from family members, and has orders lined up to keep him busy until school starts in August.
Drake charged family and friends $15 per picture with $5 being donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while the rate for neighbors and others is $20. One neighbor paid him $50, so that he would have more money to donate.
He’s already made $200 for St. Jude.
“I think the fact that people are referring and just saying the kindest, sweetest stuff to him has been really inspiring for him,” April said. “I think he’s realizing that he has a gift from God.”
The little stash he’s earned allowed him to trade in his basic pencil kit from Dollar General for a more professional art kit. He typically makes the initial drawing in pencil and then comes back afterward with colored pencils.
Lately, he’s been working to enhance his blending technique and shading with charcoal.
In addition to self-teaching via YouTube videos, Drake and his father Brent have spent time together. Like all three of their children, Brent drew quite a bit when he was growing up.
Drake’s older brother C.J., who will be a freshman at Eagleville, likes drawing cartoon characters, while their four-year-old sister Ellory was told by her pre-school teacher she does an exceptional job of coloring between the lines.
April, on the other hand, confessed, “I can’t draw at all.”
In fact, Drake’s skills have so far surpassed his mother that when he last sought her advice, she said, “I don’t really know. I’m not seeing —”
“OK. Never mind,” said Drake, as he walked away.
While students at Blackman Elementary, both of the Goers boys were selected multiple years as having the top art project.
Drake won the art award in second, fourth and fifth grades.
Lynn Fitzpatrick sent April an email when Drake was in second grade. She was not only impressed with his art skills but wanted April to know her son always made time to help other students.
“When you hear it from a teacher, it inspires you as a parent to be just as encouraging,” April said, “and kind of set apart time for them to hone in on it.”
One particular drawing April remembers is when Drake, then only seven, took off a shoe, set it on a table and drew what she described as a pencil drawing that “was identical to his shoe, every detail of it.”
April added, “He likes to look at an object and recreate it.”
“I like drawing and, yeah, I’ve been doing that ever since,” Drake said. “Whenever I have free time I usually draw.”
The key has been to foster the passion without pressing it upon any of their children. That said, whenever she says they can either read or draw, they always choose drawing. She used to take them to the Art Barn in nearby Rockvale when Drake was only three and four years old.
The owner noticed April’s boys had a good spirit and attitude.
She told April, “A lot of times kids just want to get (the project) done, so they do it quickly. … I noticed they really take their time with every detail, which what makes someone in their soul, kind of an artist.”
PHOTOS PROVIDED