“The world today doesn’t make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do?”
-Pablo Picasso
I get it. This is not what you expected or hoped for, but trust me when I tell you it is fine. I’d even go as far as to say it is desired. You might feel compelled to offer guidance, assist your child, or make suggestions. Your child’s early art experiences are about unrestrained exploration, free-wheeling creative expression, and fun. Let’s toss out our adult concern for outcome, and instead let them enjoy the process - the act of playing around with paint, and discovering how it flows, mixes, and reacts. If you are too involved or critical of their effort, they may learn to have a distaste of the activity all together.
You might say, “but I was hoping to see evidence of artistic skill”. At a young age, your child is learning how to flex their creative muscle, rather than develop artistic skill. Try not to attach your adult notions and understanding of successful art to your child’s painting experience. Your child is still young enough to enjoy trying out a new activity without thinking there is a wrong way or a right way. We definitely don’t want to take that innocence away from them. As we all know, their futures will be full of strict teachers, critical bosses, deadlines, and procedures. This messy, free-form play is where creativity is born, and that is a skill that will serve them throughout life.
Remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When your child hands you their finished painting, proudly announcing that the greenish brown blob is a superkitty flying on a cloud, use your imagination, and hang that work of art in a place of honor on the wall. Your child might yet blossom into an incredible sought-after artist, or they might stick with engineering (I’m sure there are artistic engineers too), but they will have enjoyed the experience of painting.
Tips for your child’s early art experiences…
- Ask questions, rather than offering directions, criticism, or guidance. For instance, “What is that (greenish brown blob) you are painting now?”
- Show your child how mixing colors to get new colors is fun.
- Talk about paint textures -thick versus smooth and how you can use the brush to get different textures and looks
- Try using different tools to spread the paint on the canvas. Try a plastic palette knife (or plastic card) or a comb.
- Praise your child’s effort more than the outcome.
- Paint with your child, and try to remember what it feels be free of the inner critic full of self doubt and just have fun.
- Attempt to have a “messy is okay” attitude. It might help if you cover all exposed surfaces, cloth your child in an art smock, use washable paint, and move your studio out of doors.
- Let go of your own expectations and embrace an “art as exploration” approach.
- Point out artwork to your child wherever you go - including graffiti, packaging design, and the art of nature, so your child will be filled with inspiration.
- Read the book “Ish” by Peter Reynolds to your child. In this story, “A creative spirit learns that thinking “ish-ly” is far more wonderful than “getting it right”.
