In 1988 I started a business with a very clever name – Bette’s Art Classes.

A couple of years and a few hundred classes later, it was time to get a real name for my business. Now these were the days long before ‘google’, ‘bing’ or ‘yahoo’. It was when business names actually said what the business was about and since I was teaching children how to draw, I wanted a name that reflected that.

 So I dug out my old art history books, brewed on the names of favorite artists, in search of an artist known for his ability to draw realistically. Many of the famous artists of our century, like Picasso, were brilliant, classically trained artists, but were better known for their abstract art. I decided on one of the most revered master artists of the 17^th century – Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn.

Rembrandt really knew how to draw and it’s reflected in his paintings and etchings. And since that’s what I was teaching my students, Bette’s Art Classes became – Young Rembrandts. Young – because we teach young children. Rembrandt – because of his mastery of realistic drawing and his innovative use of light and shadow.

Thank you dear Rembrandt for sharing your vision, your talent, your genius, with us. And thanks for letting us borrow your name.

Happy Birthday!