What does it take to become an artist? What does it take to put raw paint on a canvasand create something that can stir the heart and liftthe spirit?That is the essential question at the heart ofthis stunning and insightful novel. It traces theevolution of Norman, a dentist perfectly ableto fill a tooth or craft a crown, but whose dreamsof becoming of a great artist are stymied by hisemotional rigidity and his "by the numbers"dentist mindset. But then, out of the blue, a furious hurricanesweeps into Norman's well-ordered life, in theform an ornery, cantankerous, foul-mouthedartist and teacher named Kelly. The man isrepulsive and abusive, free-spirited andexcessive - and exactly what Norman's needs:a mentor who reaches deep inside Norman andbrings forth the artist just waiting to be born.