Growing Artists

Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.  

~Henry Ward Beecher

Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.  

~Pablo Picasso

The Easter break seemed to last a loooooong time this year.
Probably because the weather was so cold and wet and therefore forced us to remain inside, even though we didn't want to.

This also forces me to come up with activities to keep three energetic and loud boys occupied...
Activities that don't involve technology (i.e. television or computers). Although they did end up doing a decent amount of playing games on the computer and movie watching. *sigh*
But having this to fall back on kept me sane so therefore I embraced it. For Mamma Sanity reasons.

One activity I forced myself to do with the boys was painting. I say 'forced' because I can never get past the mess that is created. I'm a bit anal like that.
The aftermath and the unavoidable clean-up of bodies and seats gives me the cold sweats.
I have to remain alert the whole time because they are quick to get away and put their painted hands on the walls, carpets, freshly laundered white sheets. You know. Boys.

But the thing is, every time we do have a painting session together, it ends up being thoroughly enjoyable.
Yes there's mess. Sure there's body parts painted. But the creativity and joy that flows from these little guys while they're creating and the pride in their work is PRICELESS.

As I watch them paint and create I see their individual styles and techniques develop. I see the delight on their faces as they coat their hands in paint, squeezing the painted hand closed into a fist and listening to and feeling the paint squelch between their fingers.

And I am taken back to my own childhood - I remember these sensations of fingers in paint, a blank piece of paper before me, the possibilities of the masterpiece about to be created were always endless.

Yes growing artists will be a messy process, but who am I to deny them of the joy of creativity and the resulting pride in their masterpieces?

Just get over it Brigitte.
Amen.

Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.  

~Pablo Picasso