Advice History

 "What an awesome picture! Tell me about it." 

 

Is this what you say when you look at your child's artwork?  Or have you commented about the dog or house you "think" they drew only to find out later it was a horse and truck?

 

Asking them to tell you about their artwork takes you into their world.  Your inquisitiveness and support of their artistic choices encourages individual creativity and freedom of expression.  They will love to hear that you noticed the vibrant colors they chose or the texture or shading or innovative shapes you saw.  Just use language appropriate for their age.

Your child may ask you to join in their art project or you may request to sit with them and create your own.    Ask your budding artist which colors to use or how to draw a particular item.   You may just find yourself being asked ?Mommy, tell me about your picture.?

 

We express our personal style everyday--through our hair style, how we dress, the music we listen to, etc. Our "art style" is also a form of self expression. Think of all the different ways you've seen a child draw the sun--concentric circles, wavy lines or a big red ball in the sky. Each version reflects the child's interperation of that planet in the sky. Every art form should be encouraged and rewarded. Surely there would be no Picasso if we were restricted to "color between the lines."