November 4, 2012

Children's art, it's a beautiful thing


You know.....
my boys amaze me with their art projects they bring home from school.
I know I'm their mother...but come on....look at that! 
Look at the depth perception! 
The tree is drawn from the view point of someone looking up. 
The tree is not drawn straight as an arrow... it has life!
It is looming into the night sky.
Look at the gradation of color on the tree trunk.
How it goes from very dark, 
to very light... 
as the tree climbs higher into the moon lit night.
Notice the sparse leaves. 
Notice the gradation of blues... 
as they stream down from the bright, bright light of the moon.
First stark white... 
then pulling off into multiple shades of blue...
getting darker and darker as they reach the earth. 
Look at the tree limbs closing in above...
encircling the viewer.
That is brilliant!
Ok, seriously.
That is just a beautiful work of art.
I asked my son...
Did your art teacher give instruction on color gradation?
Yes.
When they first enter the class...
they gather 'round her at a table.
She will draw and give a lesson 
on a technique she wants them to learn.
Then the kids will go to their tables 
and begin their own creations.
I asked him if the teacher helped him with his drawing and gradation.
No.
So, you did this whole piece on your own?
Yes.
Wow!
I am impressed.
I am very, very impressed.
I am in love with this!
What is it about child art that is so captivating??? 
I honestly...
HONESTLY... 
enjoy it MORE than any famous artist.
And that goes for any child... 
Not just my own.
There is just something so raw and organic about it.
When a child is asked to draw or paint...
they just do it.
They don't painstakingly try to get it right.
They don't worry about proportion.
They do not fear judgement.
Look at the face of a child when they are drawing or painting.
Do you see stress? 
No. 
Their little faces are as calm and peaceful as can be.
That's a beautiful thing.
Should not we, as adults...
draw and paint with abandon?
Should not we, as adults...
just create... 
and not critique ourselves endlessly?
I think I we should try it.
It could be freeing.
It could be fulfilling.
Sigh.
Deep breath.
Let's create something and not worry about it.
You don't have to show anyone.
You don't even have to keep it.
Just give yourself permission to try.
Give yourself the freedom to mess up proportions.
It's okay.
It's 
OK!!