Creative Freedom

For some reason, painting on paper wasn't doing it for them today.

 They had to paint themselves...or maybe Eliz is considering auditioning for the BlueMan Group?

 I guess Xander wanted to go Tribal...or he just felt like highlighting his hair.

 He mixed his colors until they made brown.

 I think she told me what the white globs were, but I don't remember now.  It reminds me of Ronald McDonald, but she doesn't know who that is, which makes me feel old. 

I taught art for several weeks for our Homeschool group this semester.  One day a mother told me I did a good job.  I was a little confused, and asked what she meant.  She said I did a good job of letting them be themselves and do their own thing.  Which I got from my mother.  As a young teen (13-15) when I shaved part of my head and dyed the rest of it crazy colors, she let me.  When I used permanent marker to write/draw on myself(14-17), she didn't seem fazed-as long as it wasn't inappropriate.  I wrote poetry(my own and other people's) on my bedroom walls(13-18), and she suggested I draw a frame around them.  She was strict about some things-curfew, dating, how I allowed people to treat me, but when it came to self-expression and creativity, anything worked, because she always said, "There are no mistakes in art." 

Coloring fun

Last week the Quilter and I went to Imagination Station.  They were having a moving sale, and everything was 40% off.  I didn't lose complete control, though I did enjoy watching the kids play while we shopped.  Eliz loves the Calico Critters animals, and Lex didn't notice anything that didn't have wheels.  One of the things I bought were watercolor pencils, one of my favorite art supplies.  Yesterday Eliz and I used them for the first time.

She painted on half of the paper, and I did the other half.

She really enjoyed it.  In my opinion, watercolor painting is the most relaxing of all artistic activites.  That and wheel throw pottery.  Mmmhhh, I've just gone to my Happy Place...a studio with a pottery wheel, big sky lights and lots room for easels and painting...ah, someday.

When I first put the water on it, she had her nose on the paper, watching it turn from pencil marks to paint.  At first she was making very thin lines, and getting upset that they weren't producing more color.  She quickly figured out that the thicker the line, the more paint you get.

I'm sure we will have plenty more of these, but I won't share all of them with you.  Have a great day!

How I love HowDoesShe!!!

If you haven't yet been there, please visit Howdoesshe.com.  This place has so many great projects!  I'm planning a complete redecorate of the house, and several of the projects from this site are on my must have/make list.  I will definately be doing the the floating frame for over the fireplace.  The dollar store mug is another must, but I'm going to use a glass for Eliz to cut back on the night time-"I'm thirsty" habit.  And of course, I bought some steel oats to try because of this post.  Well, time for the weekly library trip, let you know if we find anything great!