The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-04-06
HASHADHELP FROM MISS Balm
When She Discovered His Talent She
Offered to Criticize His Work and
Give Benefit of Her Art Train
ing In France.


Tt may be that long time from now
a certain house on Fleet street will be
pointed out by pilgrims to Kenosha as
the boyhood home of celebrated
artist.
1t may be that in the days to come
when what are now the mysteries of
the future shall be the happenings of
the present, tourists will know Kenosha
not SO we'll as the home Of wonderful
factories supplying the markets of
many countries as the town in which
the great artist, Adrian Dornbush,
grew to manhood.
There is a lad in Kenosha now who
shows unusual artistic ability, it is said
by those who are competent judges, and
who may have brilliant future ahead.
He was born sixteen years ago in Hol-
land. His earliest recollections are of
this land where the world s greatest
painters lived and worked. He opened
his eyes in the province of Gronigen
with its wonderful landscapes, with it's
low rooted, beautifully picturesque
houses and it's towering, graceful wind
mills He learned to love the beauti-
full there where nothing ugly is toler-
ated and where art is as much char
acteristic of the lowliest of the inhab-
itants as are honesty, thrift and in
dustIy.
Began Drawing Early.
Although he has grown into strong,
stalwart young man, tall and straight,
he was frail as a child and because of
this he was frequently sent to the sea
shore and was kept much out of doors.
And as he played about he loved to
watch the ocean or the clouds and then
to draw them.
When he with his parents and sister
sailed away from the peaceful Dutch
burgh which had been his home and
came to America, he still continued to
like to make pictures of the beautiful
things he saw, but when he went to
school in America he was so eager to
make haste with his studies that he
gave up his work with his pen for
while. Later he took it up again as
class work.
Immediately his teachers noticed
that he had an aptitude for drawing
and soon others outside of school had
their attention called to the unusual
talent he exhibited
From pen and ink sketches his am
bition grew until he dabbled in water
color, charcoal and oil and much of
such time as he could spare from his
more serious duties was given to draw
ing or painting.
Miss Balm is Interested.
And then Miss Harriet Balm who
has studied painting in Paris, had her
attention directed to something he had
done.
Miss Balm said spirit and understand
ing and the something that makes great
artists showed in the manner in which
the lad handled his subjects.
She offered to criticize his work and
for several months she did so giving
suggestions as to technique and inform
ing him as to many of the fundamental
details of art which help so much in
aiding the inexperienced painter to
find himself. Her departure a month
or more ago for the west has made a
break in his work which he regrets.
Naturally his work is crude as to
method, but that is a simple thing to
remedy. The grasp of line and color
and q certain individuality of subject
handling without which no man can
ever become a great painter, Miss Balm
believes She finds in the boys work.
lie Visits Art Galleries.
She encouraged him to see as much
as possible of the work of recognized
painters and to visit the Chicago insti-
tute occasionally.
He has followed her advice and is
Working steadily onward so far as his
opportunity will permit.
Mr.. Dornbush has the quick percep-
ton and the quick sympathy which
are almost as characteristic of the sue
cessful artist as his appreciation of
color and line.
He has the typical artistic tempera-
ment with its moods and it's vaulting
impulses and desires. He loves the
beautiful of every description, and has
an especial fondnoss for music.
So far he has made no definite plans
as to his future except that he intends
completing his high school course which
wiz take one year more as he is now in
the Junior year.
He is a favorite with both teachers
and class mates.