Amanda Callison: Who's Who in Covina California Among Our Youth

Amanda could barely walk or talk, when she first started scribbling on papers and books with pencils, crayons, markers or anything else she could get her hands on. At first her drawing didn't look like very much. It was just a baby's doodle. Her mom just let her scribble and doodle all she wanted. Her mom kept a supply of art papers around so Amanda wouldn't scribble on the wall.

Amanda loved creating with colors and pencils. As she got a little older, the scribble began to take shape and form. By the time she was three years old her, she was no longer scribbling. She was drawing and coloring pictures and backgrounds.

When she was around four years old, she brought a drawing to me and said look at this grandma, do you like it? She always sought approval of her work. The drawing was very good. I said this is fantastic, where did you get it? She quickly answered, grandma, I just did it, myself.

When Amanda graduated from Kindergarten. She got an award for best use of time. Her teacher said that she never had to tell Amanda to find something to do; in all of her spare time, Amanda would be drawing and coloring. The teacher said that all she had to do was supply Amanda with paper and pencil and Amanda would just create, create, and create.

Amanda never lost her interest in drawing. Her art work got better and better as she got older. It went from good, to very good, to WOW! Amanda was never lucky enough to get into an art class in Junior High. The class was always full. By now she was putting out very professional looking work. Even though she never got into an art class at school; she and one other student that was lucky enough to get into art class; was named artist of the year, in the Junior High School year book.

Drawing is a talent Amanda was born with; and she happens to love drawing very much.
When she gets bored, or upset, she will just take out her drawing pad or sketch book and start sketching something. Many times, she would sketch something on the white board and erase it. We are trying to break her of this habit; because her art work is so awesome.

Amanda enrolled in High School, in the 2006 - 2007 school year; all of the beginners and intermediate art classes were full. Since Amanda never had an art class before, it was understood that she must start in the beginner's class.

Amanda's mom really wanted her in an art class. So, her mom talked to personnel at the school; and asked them if there was anyway possible they could get Amanda into an art class. The beginner and intermediate art classes already had a long waiting list; Amanda would just have to add her name to the long list. Her mom showed personnel some of Amanda's sketches. After viewing the sketches, personnel told Amanda's mom that there were openings in the advance art class. However, that was a very hard class to get into; especially without any prior training. Amanda's mom was advised to talk to the art instructor.

The art instructor said; all students had to be tested before entering her class. She had to make sure the student could handle the advance class. Only those who passed the test could enter the class. Amanda was nervous about the test; however, on testing day, she was there. The art instructor placed a large picture in front of the class room; the students had to draw the picture. Only the students with the very best entries would be accepted into the advance art class. Amanda passed the test with flying colors. She is now one of the top students in the class. Amanda was the only freshmen in the class. Her class grade is an " A ". As a freshmen, she was the best student in inks and texture.

Her favorite is drawing animated characters. Her GPA is 4.0. She also plays on the school's JV Tennis Team. She is number one singles. Next year, she will be on Varsity.

Amanda never ceased to amaze me; it didn't stop at just her drawing. She has always been very smart. When she was two and a half, It slipped my mind that she knew her colors very well. One day I was babysitting her; she asked for her yellow toy duck. There were several ducks lying around, but not the yellow one. She became very fussy because we couldn't find her yellow duck. I was very busy with my house work; so I decided to substitute. I gave her an orange duck, and said here is a nice duck. She said that's not it. She wanted that yellow duck and I wanted to get some house work done. I picked out a lime color duck, and said, Amanda, here's a very nice duck. She said that's not my yellow duck. Low and behold, I found that yellow duck. As I was approaching her; she said that's it! Amanda sat and held the little yellow toy duck and starred at me for a few seconds. Then she held out her duck and said, "see, grandma, this is yellow, this is my yellow duck."

Amanda did the book cover and illustration for "The Prince of Betherland" a children's stage play, recently published by her grandma, Mary Coe a CP on associatedcontent.

View the pictures. This art work was done through Junior High; at this point Amanda has never had any training, and has never been a student in any art class.