Student Memorial: Gordon

LZM Studio student, Gordon, watercolor & pen

Laurie & Gordon drawing together, 2013.

Student Memorial Tribute

Gordon D. was a long-time, hardworking student of Laurie's for years after he retired from an extensive legal career. He passed away in early 2020, from damage to his body from childhood cancer treatment. His rare but impish grin and rigorous attitude is still missed and I think of him every time I loan a book out that he added to my art book library.

After "graduating" from LZM Studio - which is really just when it is time for students to grow from other influences in order to blossom more fully into their own artistic voice - he continued on by taking watercolor and colored pencil classes, at the Contemporary Austin Art School. Gordon was such an enthusiastic student of art and contributor to his communities. He started drawing when his cancer treatments caused him to stop being able to play the trumpet, something he had always done. Needing a new hobby, he found me and jumped in to learn to draw. He was always bringing extra supplies to share, sending me ideas about galleries/artists/classes and contributing photographs he'd taken on his travels throughout the US. He has organized colored pencil drawing art shows at Jerry's Artarama for Pat Falconer's colored pencil students from the Contemporary Austin Art School. His partner in art is also a now retired/second career artist, Sharon Bibbee and you can visit her art showroom in Lost Pines most weekends. Gordon also generously offered a scholarship to LZM Studio, and I was thrilled when I finally found a student who wanted to accept the scholarship package! Gordon was an example of why I do what I do here at LZM Studio: there is creativity and contribution pouring forth from my drawing students, and I love seeing them touch their greater community. Gordon, you will be missed.