Virtues of Saints & Angels
Chapter 2 – Others
When Orlando Bloom had finished school in Canterbury everyone asked him what he was going to do for the rest of his life and his answer was a shrug. Besides art he had no interest in anything remotely resembling a career and he was completely confused as to how he was going to make a living.
His art teacher had gotten him to apply to the University of Arts in London, hoping that his most talented student in over twenty-five years of teaching would make a career of his obvious talent. When word came back that he was accepted just after he finished school he knew that he was on the right track. He would attend Byam Shaw College of Art in London for three years getting his Honours Degree in Fine Arts where he would spend the time perfecting his talents and learning from some of the best teachers in the country.
He had an idea of how to make a career out of his talent, which had improved over his time studying. He had worked after classes to earn enough money to live on but with his fees covered by grants and bursaries he only needed money for accommodation and to live on. His father had helped out by giving him some extra money, which he put towards getting a place on his own so he could work late into the night without disturbing others. With his ground floor flat in Camden Town he was able to bring his dog, Sidi, from home so he would at least have a familiar face to keep him company.
He had been able to land himself a job working at the local club three nights a week and took extra work at the college ushering tours through the gallery. Between classes, ushering and waiting tables he did not have much time to work on his paintings and sketches but he made time. He also kept his promise to his mother to come home once a month on the weekend just so she could satisfy herself that he was not starving to death.
Now in his last year of college he was again looking towards the future and what he would do with is life. His scores were exceptionally and all his teachers knew he could go on to do many things. He had taken an interest in doing illustrations that would then be used for books, poster, T-shirts or any number of things requiring exact, quick work from the artist. The only problem he could find in getting into this line of work was actually getting into it. He had made enquiries through the teachers and they had all told him that it was hard to get full time work as an illustrator as these jobs were grabbed and held on to for life.
With six months to go on his degree he began to think of other options he could take until the right job came up and he found his place in this world. His paintings, he knew, would always be his passion and a hobby and he understood that he needed a job to live so he could have his painting. If he ever made money from his work he of course would be pleased but even though he was a dreamer at times his feet were firmly planted on the ground.
Orlando stopped outside Café Angel and bent down to tie Sidi to the railing next to the door.
“Don’t maul anybody, Cujo,” he joked as he patted Sidi’s head. “Don’t worry I’ll get you something.”
He stood and pushed open the door to the café, walking inside and glancing down at his friend.