Budding Artists

My kids love to create. Put a blank canvas along side, paint, crayons, markers, fabric, scrapbook paper, material, buttons, whatever the medium, and the creating begins...master works in progress. I know having an artist daddy has helped cultivate their curiosity for the arts. They've seen their dad draw a little, paint a little, but he does a lot of that after they are in bed. However, there were times when he sat down to draw, that the girls would pull out their sketch pads and sit along side him. He'd give them quick lessons on various elements of art - line, perspective, value, etc. along with a little coaching. I'm not sure how much progress he made on his portraits, but the quiet daddy-daughter time was well spent.

I, on the other hand, have talents elsewhere. My artistic ability still hovers around a 5th grade level. (Interestingly enough, most people's artistic skill - namely drawing, painting, sculpting, etc., halts around a 7th grade level, because the "subject" of art becomes an elective in junior high an is no longer required. Those students who feel little inclination toward the arts, or are encouraged by society, parents, or peers to choose other electives, because "art" is not a real subject, "art" won't get you anywhere, and "art" can't make you money, will decide on other electives, leaving the once budding artist inside them to squander.) That being said, I am not an "artist" by all means, however, I love to create and I have tried to instill that love in my children. Even though my husband has the training and the talent, I have provided my children opportunities to explore, experiment, and "experience" art. Whether it be pulling out the play dough, pouring paint, gathering the brushes, providing the canvas (usually plain ol' white paper or the back of scrap mat board for an extra special treat), piling up scraps of material, colored paper, feathers, and buttons; or by hovering over them and intensley watching every move while they do their project for the Reflections contest, I have given them (or made them in some cases) "experience" art. This is not always an easy task for a busy mother who often has more seemingly important things to do (like catch up on my t.v. drama shows - JK), because of the supervision and labor-intensively cleaning that follows. But, the result is always well worth it - sometimes as tangible as beautifully painted scribbles and others less quantified like a smiley, happy, child.

Dakota beginning her masterpiece

Artist's Palette (a.k.a. paper plate with paint puddles)

Oakley concentrating on her next brush stroke

Oakley does not like to be messy or sticky. She's always trying to wash off the paint.

Two artists discussing the many avenues of art.

I love that after we have finished a family art project for school and the supplies are left out, the girls continue to create more art pieces, cards for friends, love notes for daddy, or thank you notes to teachers. Thursday night, we had to decorate a turkey on poster board for Mak's second grade assignment. After a long process, we came up with this...

Lots of torn paper pieces, buttons, feathers, material, gift bags, flowers, and sequin -
oh, and a googly eye
(Yes, I just happened to have all of it lying around my house.
The amazing thing is that I actually knew where it all was.)

And from that...came this...
...Not from any assignment she had to do...
...Not because her mom made her do it...
...Simply because Brooklyn wanted to make something nice for her teacher.

I love the card. So sweet!

That is the important thing...that they use their budding talents to make "their world" a happier place. My girls are so thoughtful.

And, lastly, the dreaded REFLECTIONS CONTEST. I say "dreaded" only because it is soooooo time consuming and is so focused on the end result. I try to make the experience a happy one, so that if they don't win, they still feel like they've accomplished something great. Luckily, at most schools, the PTA awards all the children who participate, so they all can feel like winners. So far, our girls have won at least an honorable mention, if not first place every year. Some of their projects have gone on to the state level of adjudication. I keep preparing them for that year, that first time, that they won't "win", which can very easily happen this year, as Dakota and Makenna both did a painting for the Visual Arts category in the Primary Division. Yikes! But, that is o.k. They picked their projects and I supported them.

"Beauty is in the Heart" by Makenna

"The Rainbow Slide" by Dakota

Makenna submitted a photograph, as well, for the Photography category.

"Colors by a Stream" by Makenna

Brooklyn wrote a song for the Musical Composition Category. She won Honorable Mention last year for her music piece, so she thought she'd go for it again. When the other girls were painting their projects, Brooklyn was just playing around with the paints, making a few pictures for fun. She came up with an awesome abstract, Jackson Pollock-esque painting, that was so colorful.


We decided to do some research on Jackson Pollock and pulled up several articles and images about him and his work. One picture showed him in action with a canvas on the ground, paint bucket in one hand, and flinging a loaded paint brush with the other. Then, that was that...or so I thought. I was doing dishes at the sink, when I noticed flicks of paint whizzing past me, landing on the floor, the cabinets, my pants, shirt, and feet. I turn around to see Brooklyn flinging her paint brush over new board in attempts to create, yet another Jackson Pollock influenced painting.


Yellow, black, purple, and turquoise blue acrylic specks were all over the place. I reprimanded her and immediately told her to cease and desist, and then Darin came into the room. There I was on hands and knees frantically wiping up paint spots off of the wood floor, cabinets and chairs. All of a sudden, I hear him trying to hold back the laughter, but to no avail. I started thinking about how hilarious this really was, and soon I was laughing, too. Brooklyn, who was on the verge of tears, head lowered, began to smile then giggle. Soon, we were all laughing heartily out loud at the thought of her just trying to apply her new knowledge about Jackson Pollock instantly. Gotta' love it! We did discuss, as I continued to hunt down all the paint splatter, however, that there are safer places to do such work. All was well. We encouraged her to submit her first abstract painting into the Reflections Contest and she did.

"The Awakening of Spring" by Brooklyn

We still have yet to hear back about the results. Regardless, I am proud of all of my girls for doing their best. And, oft' times I find another blue or yellow paint speck (some half way across the kitchen) that only brings a smile to my face.