What sparked my interest in Art?

I've always been interested in art. My earliest memory is of a kind teacher. 

I was 5 years old. It was my very first day at primary school. I remember feeling scared and sad to be away from my Mum for the first time.  

It was the first lesson and we were all sat down for registration. Before calling out our names the teacher, I wish I could remember her nane, had put plasticine on all of our desks. She asked us all to make something whilst she called out the register.

I remember not wanting to play with the plasticine. I just sat there feeling sad and afraid. The teacher noticed and she paused registration for a moment to come and talk to me. She asked me what was wrong. Having established that I wasn't going to play with the plasticine she gave me a pencil and a sheet of paper. She asked me to copy a poster on the wall. I recall the poster as being focused on sealife with all sorts of creatures displayed. A crab, lobster, shrimps, dogfish with mermaids purses. Sharks and even a blue whale. 

So I did as I was told. At the end of the lesson just before the bell rang the teacher came to check my work. She was so complimentary about my drawing and gave me lots of praise. From that moment on I've loved art and in particular drawing. I loved art lessons at school. I joined the army at 16 years old and probably drew most of my fellow soldiers. All my adult life I've been fortunate enough to be able to turn my hand to art for enjoyment and as a way of generating an income. 

And it's all thanks to that very special, kind teacher who spotted something in me and encouraged me to embrace art for life.