This post originally appeared in my latest newsletter, which you can sign up for here on www.jodycapehart.com
Let me introduce you to artist and illustrator Richard Cowdrey.
Probably you are already familiar with his work on projects such as the New York Times #1 children’s bestseller Bad Dog, Marley! Or you know him from his work on Super Bowl posters, or any other of the many wonderful visual works he has created.
What you don’t know about Richard Cowdrey is that his life would not be where it is today if not for the work of two wonderful teachers who touched his life at two different times in his life.
Richard Cowdrey didn’t always have his own website. Before he became a well-known illustrator of children’s works, he was a high school kid who never did his homework, was mixed up with the wrong crowd, and sat in the back of class making doodles.
Richard’s life changed, literally, during his high school graduation. When the moment came to announce the recipient of a scholarship, the name “Richard Crowdey” was spoken.
Richard, who had never applied for college, was stunned!
But then Richard learned that one of his teachers had been carefully and quietly collecting his drawings on the back of other student’s notebooks and submitted them to the Columbus College of Art and Design. The teacher told the college admissions director, “This kid has a lot of talent, but he is a lot of trouble.” The college took a chance on him, and he received a probationary scholarship.
Richard attended and eventually graduated from The Columbus College of Art and Design.
Richard applied himself to his art but hung around with like-minded, experimenting people who had open minds but had not discovered truth.
It was time for another teacher to make a life-changing intervention in Richard’s life.
This teacher had a simple message. He walked up to Richard and kindly said, “I’ve seen you try everything but one thing. I haven’t seen you try Jesus.”
The teacher gave Richard a copy of the Gospel of John and asked him to please just give it a try.
Richard did. And Richard gave his life to Christ.
Today Richard is happily married and has a wonderful family with grown children and grandchildren. He is a successful artist and illustrator and goes around speaking to people about the power of good teachers, art, and living on the ‘straight and narrow.’
He even shares the part about Jesus at public schools, who allow it because the focus on on talk is on art and teachers. But the message still gets across.
As I mentioned in the opening of this newsletter, I have been asked to promote his newest children’s book written by Valerie Westfall about adoption called The You We Adore.
I am more than happy to give my endorsement for this wonderful book, which comes out in late October just in time for November’s National Adoption Month.
In my next newsletter I will share more about the book, where you can find more information on it yourself, and how you can get this book into your schools, churches, and pregnancy centers.
Adoption has played a major role in the joy and fulfillment for our family with the adoption of Hope this past year. Adoption has always had a special place in my heart. I will share more about all this with you next month!
