劉大偉：天生的藝術家Meet a talented artist who has discovered his purpose in life This artist’s passion has led him to create his own animation company by Chip Ewald
Nearly losing his life before his first breath, Davy Liu began his remarkable story before his birth. While his mother was pregnant with him, the doctor checked and detected no heartbeat. Ten days later, just before a surgery to remove his body, the doctor double-checked and found a heartbeat! Despite the near tragedy, Davy was born a healthy baby.
It appeared God had protected Liu’s life for a special purpose. If so, it later became obvious that this purpose wasn’t to make good grades. Liu struggled in school as repeated classroom failures discouraged him. But his father’s interest in his drawings encouraged him, so Liu drew whenever he could.
Learning his love for art
A 13, his family immigrated to Florida from Taichung（台中）. Liu could scarcely communicate in English and barely kept up in school. In addition, being lonely made his first years in the States difficult. But he always looked forward to school art classes. Failing to shine in athletics or schoolwork, Davy felt his greatest chance of success lay in his artistic abilities. And these would soon make his greatest dreams come true.
Discovering his life's purpose
Liu realized early that he was born to create art. In eighth grade, he won a national art competition. And in spite of graduating from high school with a C average, Liu received a university scholarship to study art. He got his illustration degree from an art school, and The Walt Disney Company hired him, training him in animation. his first film assignment was designing sets for Beauty and the Beast-the first and only animated film ever nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.
Liu Dreamed of Oscars while working on films like Aladdin and The Lion King. His national fame grew as he contributed to other major companies. American Showcase magazine dubbled him the most unique illustrator in 1999, displaying his work on its cover. Liu appeared to be achieving his dreams on the outside. Yet inside, he sensed he was missing out on a full life. He felt empty using his creativity to gain the fickle approval of people. By seeking higher dreams, he discovered deeper satisfaction in using his artistic creations to serve his Creator.
Kendu Films and The Giant Leaf
Liu began 2000 with a renewed sense of purpose and concentrated his efforts on bringing a new concept to the big screen. During the following four years. he worked on founding Kendu Films. This animation production company offers all kinds of artistic media services to big-name clients from Pixar and Disney to Sony and Coca-Cola. But the company is also constantly working on its own projects: children's books that will eventually become feature films.
Kendu Films aims to create stories that build character by telling Bible stories from animals' perspectives.
The Giant Leaf, for example, tells of three animals that chase their dreams and accidentally discover their salvation from a flood. Those familiar with the story of Noah using a boat to save Earth's creatures from a global flood recognize the book's roots. With the success of this children's book, Kendu Films hopes to complete the movie version by 2012. Liu is convinced he has discovered his life's purpose. So he produces admirable artwork and inspiring stories to lead others to discover their own reason for being.
Grammar
Yet inside, he sensed he was missing out on a full life.
missing out on=to lose a chance for
...he sensed he was losing a chance for a full life.
to miss out on-is an informal way to use this great idiom when someone is fail to get something or fail to achieve something.
*Why don't you want to join the game? You're missing out on all the fun!
*Richard spent too much time partying and ended up missing out on a lot of learning opportunities.
Vocabulary
double-check-重复确认，再次核对double-双重的check-检查
*The flight attendant double－checked the passengers' boarding passes before boarding.
*The guards double-checked that the doors and windows were locked before leaving.
discouraged-失去勇气，丧气，沮丧 dis-＂否定＂之意 courage-勇气
*He was discouraged by the harsh comments from his colleagues.严厉的批评．．同事们
*The audience's cold response to his performance didn't discourage him.冷漠的反应
scarcely (adv)- 几乎不，几乎没有scarce (adj)-稀少的
*I was scarcely able to stay awake after staying up for two nights. 保持清醒．．未眠
*William is so busy that he scarcely has any chance to take a vacation with his family. 几乎没有
in spite of-尽管，不管或是不顾
*In spite of her stage-fright, Laura gave her speech.不顾舞台恐惧症，还是上台讲演
*They continued their project in spite of limited funding.资金
illustrations(n)-插画，插图 illustrate (v)－画插图
*The color illustrations of this children's book attracts kids' attention easily.彩色插图．．吸引小孩子的注意力．
fickle-善变的，无常的．
*Karl is a fickle boss; it's hard to predict what he will do. 善变．．预测
*The stock market is fickle right now. It's not wise to invest any money until it is more stable.不明智，不是明智之举．
eventually-最终,最后.
*Even though the couple faced many difficulties, they eventually worked out their problems.
*After tracking the fugitive for a long time, the detective eventually located him.追踪逃犯..警探终于找到他
character-故事中的人物,此指高尚的品格或人格
*Bob is a man of character. You can rely on him. 品格高尚的人
*It takes character to refuse such temptation. 必须有高尚的品格才能拒绝这样的诱惑
accidentally-意外地,偶然地 accidental-意外的
*I accidentally overheard their conversation. 无意的听到...
*I accidentally opened my sister's mail.意外的拆阅..
Chat Room
grade- 年级
make grade-获得好的成绩
make grade (idiom)-克服困难之后，达到目的或标准．
valedictorian-毕业典礼上第一名的毕业致词的学生代表．
salutatorian- 第二名毕业生
grade school-小学年级
first grade-小学一年级
tenth grade is the first year in high school, it also called "freshman"
2nd year in high school or college is "sophomore"
3nd year in high school or college is called "junior"
last year in high school or college is called "senior"
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miss-错过，或是很想念某一个人或是某一个地方
missing something－He missed the train- 错过了火车
I really miss Taipei-很想念台北．
missing out on something-错失良机，错过做某事的机会．
miss out on making new friends-错失了交新朋友的机会．
to miss out on free pizza－错失吃免费pizza的机会
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find 寻找,发现 find is discover.
found-是"find" 的过去式. found 也可自己当动词用时是指"建立,创立,创办"
found (v)-found is to create. 过去式是" founded"
founder(n)-创办人
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