artwork – Page 2 – Sillyfrog's Blog

Emotionally yours…

In order to feel great joy, you have to feel sorrow.

When I was a small child, my mother could not allow me to watch Lassie.

Even before I could describe feelings, I had deep ones. When Lassie would whine, I would cry. At least, that’s what I was told…

I do remember having blood drawn. I would break into tears so often that my mother took me to the doctor.

On the flip side, I felt excitement and joy over such simple things. I still do.

In artwork, one can not display light without darkness. Deep feelings have a wide spectrum.

Is it a curse? I would not trade that ability for anything.

Of course, when we are young, we believe everyone comes from the exact same place. It was not until recently that I discovered not everyone seems to have the same depth or ability to experience emotion.

This sounds hopelessly condescending…I do not mean to.

The creative spirit is based in emotion. The most creative of us have traditionally bordered on mental illness.(so we believe)

Who’s to say that the “mentally ill” are not the enlightened ones?

Kids need to have access to many kinds or artistic materials.

The problem with many of us is that we expect them to “make a picture”. That’s not the way it happens…

Kids need to explore the materials and unless you are able to allow a few messy moments, they won’t really learn.

I remember one day care friend of mine who refused to put paint brush to paper for the longest time. She’d dab colors onto her brush then happily rinse them in the water to watch the color change. No problem! She got around to the paper eventually and with a healthy “eye” for color, I might add.

If you stand back and watch, the kids really do know what they are doing. It probably is not what you expected but let them go. Paint does not only have a color, it has a texture too. Adding water or using sponges to paint with, makes for great fun and learning.

In the beginning of my day care career, I expected a pretty picture to send home to Mom and Dad. Being an artist myself, I quickly realized that those muddy brown ones were the best example of an artistic learning experience. I inform all of my parents of this and they enjoy knowing that artwork is a process.

There are predictable levels of developement that parents should know.

muddy messes need to happen.
watch for the artwork to begin to fill the paper.
watch for colors becoming more divided.
watch for doodles that are named after creation.
watch for the planning of a picture before doodles.

All these things can keep the parents’ interest and, after all, that’s what is really important to the kids.

Offer to post your child’s artwork on the refrigerator for viewing BUT don’t if they resist. They know the difference between work that they are proud of and just a mess too.

Interacting with the kids when they draw or paint is the most important part. Resist that temptation to give them paint,paper,water and back to the TV you go. (Once in a while it’s OK.) The kids really enjoy feedback as they play.