- Composition (a.k.a. “getting it right“) does not matter!
- Keeping clean does not matter!
- Using bountiful amounts of your favorite colors matters!
- The delight and joy of the creation is what matters!
- No fear.
- No hesitation.
- Layer all the colors of the glitter for extra extra fun!
- Use all the materials and supplies you want!!
- Ignore advise that doesn’t make sense to you! Aka: ignore most advice.
This creation by 4 year old Cora revealed all but one of these points (and would have demonstrated all of them had she known where my stash of glitter was)
What struck me about her creation process was that she had no fear plopping thick layers of the bright neon pink. I resisted cringing at her use of my expensive heavy body acrylic paints, and chose instead to be amazed at her permission levels. No fear, no hesitation, permission to use her very most favorite color liberally, no concerns about composition. She chose to use the grays next, which, happy accident or not, resulted in a lovely contrast with the bright pinks. What I will remember is the sheer delight on her face and in her body language using my fancy brushes to lather on the paint, thoroughly and Viscerally enjoying every second of the creation process. This couldn’t be any more a perfect inspiration for me, as an engineer by training. I’ve had So much training And continual positive feedback in linear thought processes…. left brain thinking. For 4 decades. This wonderful timeless moment, observing my granddaughter enjoyIng her creation, lit a light bulb in my right brain And in that moment she became my teacher!
The younger the artist, the more naturally “abstract” are the outcomes! 1 year old Julia demonstrates the engaging process of spreading out spaghettios as far as her lil arms can reach!
It is a simpler creation than Cora’s, but every bit as delightful for the young creator.
Cora, still four years old but a couple months older, created these themed paintings, using delicious color palettes of her own choosing.
The Intensively pink creation, she called “Sky Raining Candies”.
Again, lots of permission for P!nk… And lots of appreciation for treats like candy!
The golden hued creation she called “Decorating the Pizza Room”. Lots of permission for pepperoni pizza, and interior decorating verve!
While I probably won’t be creating any pizza room paintings going forward, hopefully my inner critic will be taking more of a backseat. And, more importantly, I am thoroughly inspired and buoyed by the whimsy and the delight of the creation process. I welcome the increasing participation of my right brain, and maybe my inner child as well!