Some of Jack's happy painters

I told her I was interested in painting and got the supplies needed to start. She mentioned to me to keep in touch with her to see how I was doing as there was no instructor at that time in my area.

By 1988 I was doing it a lot better and now as I was practicing, people would look into my window and check out my progress. I even let them paint something on my canvas. Little did I realize I was teaching them with the little I knew. After being able to now do some things on my own I went to school and did a demo in my daughters class as a show and tell. I did a finished painting in a half hour and the teacher thanked me for the demo.

.Little did I know what was about to happen..I got a call from the principal and he told me that the teacher was amazed at what I did and asked if I would do a demo in all the classes and he would pay me for my time. WOW that was about 1989 and I spent the next few months doing all 27 classes and was getting calls from the children's parents asking about lessons.

In 1990 Laurie stated I should come out to Oregon to try out for certification in June..Well I packed my bags and was off to see what I could do and wow I was going to meet The Big Guy himself. I believe we all met at the Econo lodge which was close to the Alexander Art Plant where the Certification process would take place. After checking in I went to my room. We all had roommates at that time which was cool at least to me. Cost less that way. I then went to the meeting room where all the people trying out for certification would get together and meet for the first time and finally meet Laurie also who was coordinating everything.

I called Laurie and told her what I had done and she told me to send in a picture and it was put in "The Fire In News Letter" July/August 3rd Anniversary edition. Titled "Kids can paint too!!". I would say at the time that most of the instructors dealt with adults and this opened things up to a new idea as then the magazine came out with The Kids Corner. I will post this later for all to see..This newsletter at the time was 4 pages folded in half which later evolved of course into the Fire In Magazine. It came out like the Newsletter every 2 months.

!As I was walking to the meeting room who was standing in the walkway, but Bill Alexander himself. I was awestruck. There he was standing in front of me. I walked up to him and said," Hi Bill, I am Jack from Philly". Bill looked at me and smiled and gave me a big hug. What a welcome

After a few days I got a call from Laurie congratulating me for passing my certification and stated we would get our certificates in the mail shortly. Well I got all excited. I went down the street where there was a store for rent and opened the Magic Brush Art Studio where I taught for over 7 years with the help from my wife Fran. We moved to NJ where I am still teaching full time. I now have my own 13 show tv series which is dedicated to Bill, and now available. Parts are on YouTube along with 24 Custom Lesson Dvds I have made for people all over the world of other painting lessons on my website www.Magicbrushart.com .
In closing I can only say Bill Alexander is without a doubt the most inspirational person I have ever met and to be able to call him my friend is a tremendous honor and I will continue to keep his dream alive, by doing what he asked, "Help People to Fire In to that Almighty Canvas". Also many thanks to Laurie Layton Anderson for her help in getting me started, for without her in the beginning this might not have ever happened.

Jack Kolber ACI 1990