She was like a friend, even coming to my home and visiting, and inviting me to her apartment.
But she got married, and in my town, in those days, if you were a woman and you got married,
well, that was the end of your teaching career in that school district.
She was my inspiration. She introduced me to oil painting, water colors and drawing with color crayons on muslin fabric and even puppet making.
I did a painting in class of a little girl playing a piano, and Miss Ylinen liked it. She told me that
she was going to enter it into a competition in Pittsburgh, PA. But before she could get it ready to be mailed, she had to have permission from the principal or somebody higher. So Mr. Skustad
came to look at the entries one day and when he looked at mine he remarked, "You are not going to waste postage on that painting, are you?"
"Yes, I certainly am!" she replied. And she did. She was allowed to go to Pennsylvania to view
all the entries, 1200 of them, from kids all over the nation. When she came back, she told me
that when she started up the steps, the first painting she saw was mine! It won a Certificate of Merit with a gold seal, yet!
Miss Ylinen eventually got married and went to live in California. There she was hired by the
Walt Disney studios. I think she probably painted the backgrounds for many of the Disney
animated movies. Of course, I lost touch with her, but I will never forget her.
Your story is very touching. Having a mentor as a child is a priceless gift. They can affect the whole course of one's life. Miss Ylinen certainly had a powerful influence on your life as evidenced by your love of art. Not just art appreciation, but also the creation of original works.
ReplyDeleteWhat an honor to have known Miss Ylinen. She obviously made a huge imprint in your life. She had more talents than art, she also had the gift to touch a child. And to you, congratulations on your Certificate of Merit for a painting to be proud of and remember forever.
ReplyDelete