I have the same thing going on with my son. He just graduated this past spring, and is now 19.
He's always hung around my shop, since it's only 2 blocks from the house, and he's gotten to know my customers and has helped me out many many times on jobs throught the years. He's extremely polite (his mother's influence), and has a very wacky sence of humor (guess that could be from me
).
At 14, he started playing around with my pinstriping brushes, and in no tyme showed what a natural talent he has. By the time he turned 16, he was already a better pinstriper than me! I lay out most of my designs ahead of time...but not him! He puts down his center line and just goes for it!!! He recently got himself a Kafka scroll brush, and now he's learning how to do something that I still am not very good at...scrollwork. He's been watching the videos, and practicing like crazy!
I always turn to him whenever I have a problem with my computer...and as I just bought myself an Edge machine last week...guess where he is??? He's been helping to install and get this thing up & running fer me!
He's a wonderful young man. He's got the greatest personality I've ever seen. Now he's thinking of going to engineering school next year. I know he'd rock at it, but frankly...I don't want him to go! I'd love to have him as a partner in the business...but I gotta let him find his own way I guess.
Good luck with your son there Replicator. He certaintly has the eye for design, and I'm sure will only get better & better.