As Tim’s artistic reputation grew, the shy student labored on his academics by day and painted increasingly complex images at night. More immersed in painting than schoolwork, Tim spent his time in class aching to finish the paintings that waited for him at home. During this time, he received frequent invitations to show his art at galleries in San Francisco and throughout the west coast of the United States. There were times when gallery owners made direct contact with Tim, and on occasion, they spoke with his high school counselors who then passed the offers on to their student. Since Tim’s counselors understood little about the art industry, they encouraged him to become skilled in making the decisions necessary to promote his art.

Though all his efforts were aimed at becoming a self-reliant artist, Tim completed his classes and graduated from high school. Acknowledging his determination, Tim’s teachers celebrated his artistic forte and made note of his every accomplishment. Understanding his unassuming nature and concerned about his artistic growth, they applied for scholarships and grants on Tim’s behalf. At an awards ceremony, he was amazed to have won every art scholarship and grant presented to him. Greatly touched by the generosity and kindness shown by his teachers, Tim declined the scholarships, but accepted the grants to help purchase the provisions needed to keep painting.

Tim continued his quest to find a quiet space to create by enrolling at a local college and beginning a summer art class. Unfortunately, the lesson learned in the class was not as expected. Rather than gaining mastery over his images, Tim experienced the difficulties of participating in an embittered adult world. Within the first week of class, the instructor who was also an artist, discovered that Tim was showing paintings in a San Francisco gallery that had recently rejected his work. Claiming that Tim was his student, the instructor angrily demanded that the gallery remove Tim’s paintings. The gallery ignored the demand and told Tim about the incident. Having no understanding of how to contend with this level of rivalry, the quiet seventeen-year-old did not return to the class.

The awkward experience clarified the path Tim must take; one week into college, his formal schooling would end. Instead of spending time in a classroom and risk having his work compromised through influence or tainted by conflict, he decided to use the funds collected from his gallery sales and grant awards to purchase a large vehicle, stock it with art supplies, and exhibit his paintings anywhere he chose. The idea came to him after seeing a photograph of his great grandfather showing his paintings in an open-air market nearly a century earlier. Though unorthodox, Tim believed this was the only way he could perfect his art, while at the same time, directly experience the reactions of people who viewed his work.

For the next seven years, though he continued to show paintings through fine art galleries, Tim followed a gypsy’s way of life. He would stop along California’s coast Highway One and set-up his easel and paintings along the roadside. At other times, Tim entered various art festivals where crowds of over 300,000 people would see his art. While the gallery industry frowned on his lifestyle, Tim was determined to introduce his paintings to more people than galleries alone could reach. In those seven years, millions of men, women and children from all parts of the world passed through Tim Cantor’s traveling exhibit. Yet, life on the road was not easy. Tim spent countless hours driving to various exhibitions, often spending each night in a different city. He was far from home, exceptionally shy, and often went to sleep distressed and alone.

                                                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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