A Teenage Painter

 
 

Vocabulary

career	celebrate	watercolors
talent	support	masterpiece
to him	exhibition	passionate
snap	holiday	constantly
juice	pursue	immediately
boat	self-made	recognize
earn	welfare	pay/paid/paid
wage	snap up	buy/bought/bought
rather	genuine	at the time
bill (3)	average	incidentally
ages	honest	millionaire
choice	to date	oil painting

 
 
 
 

Video: The Teen Painter

 
 
 
 

Transcript

Whether it’s oil paintings or watercolors, Kieron Williamson is passionate about his art.

There aren’t many fourteen-year-olds who are already self-made millionaires. But Kieron is constantly producing new masterpieces.

To him, it’s the most natural thing in the world.

Kieron Williamson, Artist: “I still wake up and think about what I’m going to paint. And then I go to my seat, and do a bit of work, have a shower, and then have my breakfast, and then sort of go on my bike.

Come back, and do a bit more painting.”

He was just a small boy when he had his first exhibitions. Art lovers snapped up the works for several thousand Euros each.

Kieron celebrated — with apple juice.

It all started while holidaying in Cornwall at the age of five.

He painted some boats on the sea. And his parents immediately recognized his talent.

Kieron Williamson, Artist: “My nineteen painting lessons, they normally involved other people. They’re slower than me, so I normally have two pictures on the go.”

The family was on welfare at the time . . . but that’s all long forgotten now: Kieron has since earned two million Euros — and bought his parents a house.

Michelle Williamson, Kieron’s Mother: “Kieron actually pays us a wage. So rather than giving Kieron pocket money, we have to every now and then ask for a pay raise so we can continue to pay the bills.”

The top price for a genuine Williamson to date is €50,000.

Kieron’s second big passion, incidentally, is football. Here too, he’s not quite like you average young Englishman.

Kieron Williamson, Artist: “I like Germany, to be honest, yeah. I not say that to be cheesy, no. I’ve supported Germany for absolutely ages.”

Pursuing a career as a footballer would have been his second choice. But even in football, fourteen-year-old millionaires are hard to find.

So Kieron Williamson plans to continue doing what he does best.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *

Questions

1. Kieron Williamson is a child prodigy. True or false?

2. At the moment, is he poor, working class, middle-class, upper-middle-class or rich? Why is he rich?

3. Kieron only paints. He spends his entire day painting. Is this right or wrong?

4. Did he start painting at the age of thirteen? What did his parents think?

5. Has Kieron’s family always been rich? Does his parents give him allowances?

6. Are his paintings cheap, medium-priced, expensive or it depends?

7. Kieron only loves painting. Is this correct or incorrect? Is his favorite team Manchester United?

 
 

A. Do you paint pictures? What about your friends?

B. Did you paint and do other artwork in school?

C. Do you or your friends wish you could paint like Kieron and become a millionaire?

D. What are some hobbies that you could do and earn money and become successful?

E. There is too much competition in everything. What do you think?

F. What might happen in the future?