Posted on: Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Geoff Crimmins/Daily News

"Probably (it will be) an alien with four arms," he said. "Because it's cool."

Rennie, 6, loves to draw, and his artistic inclinations recently gained him national recognition. Children's publishing company Scholastic awarded him one of 25 top prizes for an art contest featuring the "Pigeon" character from the popular book series.

Rennie drew the picture in the fall in his kindergarten class at Palouse Prairie School in Moscow. His teacher instructed the class to draw a creative picture of the Pigeon, and Rennie went all out, depicting the bird with bright purple feathers, riding on roller skates under a big, shiny sun.

"I wanted to be silly," Rennie said.

That silliness earned Rennie a special congratulatory letter and signed copies of the whole Pigeon series by author Mo Willems.

He's pleased with his prize, but admits he might make a few changes to his drawing if he could do it over.

"I forgot to draw lines right there" to show the Pigeon was moving, he said. "Actually, he was just stopping."

His teacher, Jeneille Branen, said Rennie shows exceptional artistic skills.

"Rennie is very detail-oriented, so he ... can put small details in a picture, which is advanced for his developmental stage of writing and art," she said. "Every picture he draws tells a story."

Rennie said he loves to draw objects in motion.

"I like to show (something) moves, like when doors slide back I draw arrows," he said.

Lately he's been drawing machines, especially ones that go underwater or in the air.

"And monster trucks," added his brother, Owen, a third-grader.

Branen said Rennie's artwork in school has included a picture of himself riding a scooter down a hill and a drawing of his room that has details down to "the tiny shelf with the tiny little things that are on the shelf."

Rennie also has tried drawing pictures of his striped cat, Speedy, but isn't too fond of drawing cats.

"Chihuahuas are easier," he said.

Rennie said he sometimes gets frustrated when he can't draw whatever he wants at school. And while he loves "looking at all kinds of books" - favorites include "The Pigeon Finds a Hotdog" and anything related to "Star Wars" - he's still a little anxious about learning to read.

"I'd rather have math homework," he said. "I like adding stuff and counting."

Rennie's parents, Lahde and Mike Forbes, have always encouraged their children to explore art.

Rennie and Owen have an art room in their rural Moscow home filled with crayons, cardboard scraps, fabric, markers and whatever else the boys might want to use for their creations.

Lahde said she wanted to give them "a space where they can make a mess."

"I think most kids have a natural creative urge," she said.

Rennie comes by his artistic nature genetically. His parents met at art camp in high school. Lahde has done artwork throughout her life, and Mike is known as a "do-it-yourself" guy whose creations include a bicycle made from scrap parts. The boys' grandmother also is an excellent artist.

"She draws all the 'Star Wars' characters perfectly for them, pretty much," Lahde said.

Lahde said Rennie's teacher also has been an inspiration.

"(Branen) has the eye for how kids create," she said.

Branen said she had a feeling Rennie would win the Scholastic contest with his creative drawing.

"It's just incredible, and I think it's just a really good reflection of his abilities," she said. "He'll end up doing something with (art), and I'm excited to see what it is."

Rennie said he probably wants to be an artist when he grows up.

Why?

"Because I just do."

Tara Roberts can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 252, or by e-mail at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .