I stayed late, I worked till dark. That’s when my theater teacher said, “It’s alright, you can go home now.”

I said, “I had to finish what I started”. For hours and hours, I worked on the Les Miserables set for our school musical. It was the biggest one the Arrowhead Drama Department has ever, and will ever put on. A three hour celebration of the french revolution and of love and tragedy. 

Painting is my passion, leaving a mark on this beautiful musical was my job. Three months is all I had to finish coloring the set to look and scream of 19th century France.

Painting the rails, brick, and stone covered in a layer of rusted brown and gray paint. Layers upon layers of detail work, outlining the life of Jean Valjean going from a lonely prisoner to full of love for his daughter. I told the story through every stroke of my brush. Meeting Fantine and her daughter Cosette along the way. Their tragedy and how Valjean saved them is portrayed in bluish water-like grays and creamy whites.

Weeks and weeks passed. Hours of character development, but after all those late nights and afternoons finally I was done. I stood on the guard rail of a massive bridge I’d painted and looked across the set I had colored with character. It was done. And now the story could be told.

Rehearsals, finishing up singing and acting came and left and soon it was show nights. And each time the lights came up for the first time I watched my director smile. I couldn’t help but feel joy. I helped bring her favorite musical to life, through the colors I had painted. And upon seeing her smile, I felt a grin begin on my face. That smile was all I needed to know that all those long hours were worth it.