Keaton’s Drawing of #150

My son Keaton loves to draw. At Kim’s suggestion, I commission him to draw the banjo for the cover of my upcoming release, While I Have Being. He labored for days on the project and ultimately produced the stunning work above.

Regretfully, I made the mistake of helping with the coloring. He was just completely drained from days of laboring on the drawing (which he took with his typical seriousness and intensity), and I wanted to free him of the burden. When we were done, I could tell Keaton wished that the final product had been exclusively his work. I was heartbroken that I had robbed him of that very appropriate satisfaction.

Being wholly committed to Kim’s brilliant concept for the cover and packaging, I soon realized that our colored work just didn’t achieve the aesthetic we were seeking. Ben’s sketch, on the other hand, nailed the concept and is featured on the back of the packaging and the CD itself. Keaton attended to Ben’s work and intuited why the drawing was so effective in the context of the project. Committed to satisfying his commissioner, Keaton set about transforming his detailed drawing into an “inked” black and white sketch. The exemplary result now graces the cover of the album.

Keaton received his well deserved commission. He now “gets” that art-making is sometimes arduous work. I have finally internalized what I should have already understood: never rob a child of the deep satisfaction that comes from struggling through the blood, sweat, and tears of a challenge.