ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Give him a pencil and paper and within minutes he’ll produce a frameable picture. The same holds true whether he is working in oils, acrylics, watercolors or charcoal; Garrett Allen, a senior at Robertsdale High, is familiar with all of the mediums.

“One day I would like to become an artist or maybe even an art teacher,” he said.

This past summer Allen took a step in that direction when he accepted a job as an airbrush artist at the Tanger Outlet Center in Foley.

“The job was a lot of fun, plus you got to meet people from so many different places who were down here to vacation,” he said I worked with a guy by the name of Rick Pezikian, who had retired from the creative side of Disney.”

The Disney complex is made of Disney World, but it also houses a college that trains dancers, singers and artists.

“The two colleges I’m most interested in are Disney and the Savannah School of Art and Design,” he said. “Then again, I may start out at the University of West Florida like my sister, Heather, who graduated from RHS, last year, did.”

Allen recently completed the second of two courses in abstract art.

“I’ve also studied impressionism and realism as part of my art class,” he said.

In addition to art classes at RHS under Bryant Baggett, Allen takes private lessons under the nationally known artist, Joan Blackburn.

With the creation of the Internet artists can display and sell selections from their own website.

“Someone told me I should take several business courses in college as art is an industry,” Allen said. “Being able to market my paintings and prints would mean not having to go to a lot of art shows as with the internet the whole world becomes your market.”

Last spring Allen finished second in an Aviation Competition with a college of World War I and II planes. This year he is working on several paintings which he plans to enter into the Faulkner State Competition as well as the Congressional Competition. A win in the Congressional means his work would be displayed at the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

“At RHS I’m a member of the Art Club, which Mr. Baggett sponsors,” he said. “Last year I was in the Golden Bear Marching Band, but I decided to join the swim team and run cross country this year. My only other activity is the National Honor Society.”

Allen took French III and Cathy King, the French teacher, asked him to go over to Robertsdale Elementary School and teach the children French.

Outside of school Allen is active in his church, Hamilton Baptist, where he plays the piano during worship services, and is active in the church’s youth group.

“One of the things I really enjoy doing is teaching the kids during their arts and crafts time at Vacation Bible School,” he said.

Although he has never had a formal showing of his work, several of his pieces were displayed during the recent Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Program.

“This event was formerly known as the Junior Miss Pageant,” Allen said. “I think we had seven girls from RHS to compete for scholarships. I was just glad they commissioned me for several pieces, which would be used on stage and in the lobby.”

For Allen the arts, and his music, have helped him to realize his purpose in life. Being creative is what he feels makes life worth the living.