‘I love painting’

Great story, thanks Robert.

Hi Robert :-) I’ve noticed the same thing painting with sick kids in hospital as a volunteer with the Starlight Children’s Foundation. Kids [just like adults]certainly do paint in accordance with their character! One day painting on the wards… Captain Starlight was delivering a magic trick and asked the kids for a magic spell to add color back into the magical coloring book. One cute little two year old turned and complied with the unexpected flick of a fully laden paint brush across the crowded ward. You should have seen those adults duck! [grin]Love this story Robert… you tell it in a nutshell!

A while back there was a “reality” show on the tube that claimed to be finding the next great artist. Yeah sure. But one project these artistic hopefuls had to do was to create a work of art that would show what early memories they had from their childhood, about art. That made me think about my kindergarten days on a Canadian air force base in France. And what I remembered most was color. A big box of brightly colored beads that we would string together, a package of freshly opened plasticine and jars of paints. Those images are stuck in my mind forever. And while the school system didn’t do much about art once kindergarten was over, those times have encouraged me to keep slapping paint on paper ever since. It’s amazing what being exposed to art at an early age can do for a developing mind.

Such little canvases, struggling to contain so much energy — just like their artists. I suspect the inability to stop, in the interest of preserving the strokes, is due to an instinctive need for full immersion — the thrilling discovery that physical movement can control where colors go.

Here we go again. A great letter, Bob, but again I take exception to the idea that “only” someone who likes to paint is an artist, as though the word had been coined especially for the painters in this world.

What a wonderful story. I can just see the scene in my mind’s eye. Thanks for this.

It was my privilege to work with little ones for five years in an elementary school. The littler they were, the more pure their art was, I decided. Yes, the mess. And yes, the brown paintings. But yes, one can use frisket and stencil to save out parts…and also use separate pieces of paper for certain color choices, and then cut or tear up the papers and put them together in a pattern or picture. One of the most revealing group of classes was when I brought my mild mannered cat in to be our model! The second to fourth graders made really terrific drawings and paintings of that cat. I still own some of that work, and will not part with it.

I’ve been told that Art is Communication by a successful artist. I’ve also been told that Art is Play by a talented, amateur artist. I couldn’t quite wrap my brain around the former, but the latter resonates with me. Art as Communication precludes loving and owning your own work, because, as this artist said, “I don’t like talking to myself”. I happen to love my own work, and I enjoy seeing it in my house. I also find that the imagination part of being an artist suits the ‘Play’ framework much better. At any rate, children artists at play ‘feels’ as if something fundamentally important is happening. Perhaps communicating with art is either something totally different or a result of maturing. I haven’t matured to that point yet.

I taught middle school for years (not art though). When art was removed from our curriculum (budget), I was saddened. I wondered where these kids would ever find the joy of experimenting with art and that special discovery and creativity it brings out. I often painted murals, stage sets, and bulletin boards at school…and every time, kids would gather just to watch me on their way to class. Those who had discovered their own artistic muse began to bring me their sketch books, their notebook paper filled with designs, their craft creations and etc. to share; just for the chance to show someone (me) who they thought would understand and appreciate their having done it- young teens who hadn’t had that experience probably since kindergarten. It made me smile that they would want to share with me. But it made me so sad that probably many young artists were left undiscovered. They likely never would develop their artistic side due to lack of opportunity to grow their appreciation for art, their knowledge of art, nor their talents. I hope you will continue to share your art and direction with students of all ages, Robert. They all need it.

One of my favorite stories is when my grandaughter was about 8 or9 yrs.old I set her up in my studio whith lots of colored paper, etc. other supplies and a canvas.. Explained to her a little about collage and just let her go at it…

I like this sort of item so much more than “Copycat in the Gallery’, ‘Fun in Fundraising’, and others.

Faith said: …someone who likes to paint is a painter, but not necessarily an artist…. an “artist” does his or her creative thing to a high standard of excellence rather than just doing it…

Hm, this explains some of the comments that occasionally pop up: <a target=_blank href=”http://www.ehow.com/about_5067762_definition-sociopath.html” title=”this”>http://www.ehow.com/about_5067762_definition-sociopath.html</a>

Having read the “I love Painting” article, it suddenly came to me why my art career started so late in life, age 30.

You hit another tender spot: the exposure of children at an early age to art of any and every kind. I’m the proud grandfather of Joel & Gaby. The boy, older, was first introduced to art at the Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. By the gate we entered with him on my shoulders and spent several hours through the maze of art. From then on whenever he went with anyone to any art show he always said to his accompanying adults that I made all the artwork they ever saw. At the age of 5 I bound into a book all his school & home artwork and to this day 10 years later he treasures it.

For some reason I have he urge to send you some red strings.

All artists are not painters.

Upon teaching a grade 1 class – a little girl tugged at my pant leg to come to her desk. She put her cabbage patch doll over her drawing paper, the doll being much larger & longer than the paper – and commented “see, it doesn’t fit”!!

For about four years, I was a preschool teacher for two-year olds. One of our favorite activities (for the two-year-olds and me, unsure about the parents) was painting. My husband made a very short, but long two-sided easel so that four could paint together. We used two primary colors to avoid the creation of a mass of brown paintings and let them paint as long as they wanted.

My pre-art career was as a child psychologist and I was always impressed with how often children could jump into the moment, intensely discovering their worlds through their acts of engagement. I think that being in that moment of discovery is part of what makes art so exciting for them and for us. It also has its excesses, as you point out, but the great thing about art is that our final product is a great teacher, too. I’m attaching a watercolor in which I try to capture the intensity, timelessness, and discovery of childhood. I call it, “Playing for Time.”

There are four grandchildren; all painted before they were three. Some produced gray and black paintings; too much moving around in paint. They liked their paintings and were always ready to paint when they came to visit. For me they were all gifted and encouraged to create works out of the imagination and then as they got older; we added flowers and vase. I’m sure your experience was a joyful one even though you may have had paint all over you. Thanks for sharing and blessings for your gift to the children.

It is really fun to see kids making efforts creating their work of art. They are so engrossed in their work and watching their faces is so interesting one would be twiddling with her hair with one hand and another would have her/his tongue out of his mouth as if trying to draw with it. One can be so meticulous in trying to put details. When my oldest daughter was four years old she saw me painting asked me if she too could paint. She just came in from playing with our neighbor’s 8 year old daughter who was teaching her to skate in the outdoor skating rink. I gave her a small cardboard that comes from the inside of a new pantyhose I had handy at the time. She then sat down beside me and started to draw after which she gave me the finished picture. It showed a picture of two girls on skates they were so detailed you could really see it clearly. One girl was bigger than the other and she had all the details of the attires and hands with fingers not proportional, hair and face with big eyes and long lashes. She told that it was Judy and her skating. I had it framed and I still have it. My four year old grand daughter also loves to paint. I gave her a box of water color and brushes and paper. She likes painting butterflies and the sun. She loves purple, pink, yellow and green. I encouraged them to do it. I wish I had the same opportunity in my childhood to have materials to paint as my children and grand children do now. Growing up in the Philippines in late 40’s and early 50’s all we did not have art as a subject or course in grade school or even in high school. We just did art for our projects. I was really interested in art then but only had bond paper, pencils and crayons for materials. My geography and history teachers like my drawings of maps in our courses and they provided me with Bristol boards and crayons and assigned me to draw maps of Europe, the U.S. and the continents for displays in our High School Day Exhibits when our school was open to parents. It was one of my ambitions to pursue an education in art or architecture but I was discouraged by my father (a lawyer and wanted anyone of his children to follow in his footsteps). He declared I could not earn a living on these professions unless I was established and well known. I did not heed his wishes to take up law and enrolled in nursing instead. I did not give up my love for art so now I am doing it just for the love of it.

What a delightful account of your experiences in the kindergarten class!!. Believe it or not, I have often experience similar euphoria in many of my workshops. Incidentally, a painter friend of mine who has now passed on always said that it took two people to paint a picture; one to paint; the other to hold a hammer over his/her head to force them to stop. “Get the Hammer”!!!!!! is now a watchword at frequent intervals on my watch.

I have observed to myself, over the years, that the innocent joy, enthusiasm and ability to play, of children all inspire my life and make me furious at that which squished those traits in me. As an “adult” I make an effort to be conscious of the need for joy, enthusiasm and spontaneity. This morning it seems that I avoid painting just when I need it the most.

So funny, thanks for sharing your experience. I can totally relate to over working a painting, I think that is why I am now painting in watercolour. It is a medium that limits over working! Just wanted to also thank you for your “Twice-Weekly Letter”, I always look forward to your messages and have been very inspired and motivated by so many.

Nice article about kindergarten, Robert. At age 5, I think most artists may produce quite authentic work.

Wonderful post and great to see you sharing your talent with the younger set. I just did a collage project of Halloween masks with my sons’ 4th grade class. A great age since they are old enough to be self-sufficient and yet young enough to still be enthusiastic. When I was talking to the kids, I told them there were no wrong answers in art and they could do whatever they wanted. Talking to the teacher after class, she said that when I said they could do whatever they wanted it really scared her. Maybe she thought they were going to start swinging from the rafters, but instead they just got busy working. I agree that teachers deserve sainthood….all of them. Whenever I come home from volunteering at school I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.

I laughed when I read this post. I teach painting at a private club for women, and most of my students are over 60, but my experiences aren’t much different from the kindergarten class. Some are timid, others jump right in. No matter how much I tell them, they won’t leave their strokes alone, but brush them over and over. They get paint on their faces and their clothes. Once in a while, somebody turns out something that’s pretty darn good. And they love it, and keep signing up for the class, semester after semester. The joy of creativity!

all creativity ‘s rooted in the young

It’s fun to watch yet nerve racking at the same time to turn loose a new student with paint and canvas. Recently I did a voluntary class for the local art society to give those that signed up a hand at the palette knife. Most of them have been painting for years, only one had never painted, age doesn’t matter. I had them chose a color to cover their canvas with to get the feel of the knife. All was going well until I squirtted out the other primary colors. The mud makers took over and it was the beginner who followed direction and didn’t mix all the colors together. Timid enough not to over work the colors. After some work we were able to salvage the canvases and make some very interesting representational abstracts. I was looking for texture and the movement of color swirled together on the canvas…..is dull greyish brown a color? LOL. We did have a lot of fun.

I can only smile when I think of your generosity in giving your time to be with those (lucky) kindergarten kids. Some may remember how they were encouraged by a “real artist”, and how it made them feel to be part of that day. That was delightful to read about, I was picturing it all and I did enjoy the images, too, from the clickbacks. Anyway, long may you share your gift and enthusiasm!

I am forwarding this Twice-Weekly letter to some of my former staff members who survived the perils and joys of Kindergarten. Each September, I eagerly awaited the portraits created of me (the principal and occasionally, the princess); usually I had lipstick still on, sometimes I was gloriously thin and my earrings were usually a focal point. I have always thought between coloring books and grown up rules, we unintentionally but systematically erode the joyful, creative abandon that is inherent in young children’s art. Thanks for being a part of a very special world!

This fall I offered to help, for one time, a first grade art class that had fourty children and one teacher for 80 minutes once a week. I have been back every week since. It is the highlight of my week (outside of a good painting day!) They are wonderful! The best thing about art is everyone produces something special. Hugs and encouragement are stressed here and the atmosphere is all positive. Every dollar of gas money is the best way I can spend it. I drive 90 miles each time, round trip. Just one morning a week can make so much difference in everyone’s life, especially mine.

Here at the Arkansas Arts Center, there is an annual exhibit of

Your experience with Miss Moore’s Kindergarten was heart-warming and brought back many wonderful memories. I was an early childhood teacher for many years…and used art as my philosophy for teaching in my pre-school and kindergarten classrooms. There the rooms were abuzz of activity…from math to science, English to social studies…art played its role in the teaching, the learning and the enjoyment and fulfilling results of hands-on experiences with varied mediums. When materials were scarce, we painted like Van Gogh using burlap for canvas, like Degas, using chalk on brown paper for pastel effects; tempera paint was plentiful and used on a variety of surfaces. One of my most rewarding experiences came from a parent who followed up a lesson on early cave painting (charcoal or chalk animal drawings on brown wrapping paper), by visiting the Museum of Natural History in NY. There the 5 year old child, exclaimed to his parents, those are cave paintings …just like we did in school!”

An open minded artist can learn from tiny children. I recommend the exercise too.

Warm hearted, open-minded and totally brilliant. Love it!!!!!

My favorite age group when student teaching was the first graders, age about 6. They had motor skills by then, and could hold a pot of tempera paint and brush it on the paper.

This past April I too had the unique opportunity to discuss my trade with a classroom of kindergarteners. What fun! Since I used to teach second grade for many years, being in an elementary classroom again was a real treat for me. Little kids’ enthusiasm for life’s adventures is contagious and refreshing.

When I was 5 years old, my kindergarten teacher suggested to my parents that they should look into enrolling me into elementary school a couple years early (normal grade 1 age was 7). My mother took me to a child psychologist for a “maturity” test. I don’t remember the test except for the Rorschach. I said that the smudge looked like an “upside down lady”. The psychologist didn’t understand and I had to explain that it looked like a lady if I turn the page upside down. On our way home I asked my mother if I will be going to school early, and she said no. I asked if it was because of the upside down lady and she laughed and said, yes, that’s why. This soon became a family joke that only I didn’t find funny. I now know that this wasn’t the reason, but at that time it felt as if my creative answer closed a door for me.

It is so important to understand the world from the child’s point of view. Good job Robert for doing that!

I have taught children (from 9 up) and am always amazed at what they can produce. I always start out by telling them that they have my total approval and that there is no competition. Many times I have heard a sigh of relief! I once stopped painting and then I realized that in my head I was competing with my idols! (the dutch masters) Once I started competing with myself I could start to paint again!

Your story brings back memories. I taught art to 5 to 14 year olds for over 25 years. With little ones, the physical process is often what is important. Moving the paint, mixing the colors, using the brush, hand, shirt, whatever.

I taught upper elementary grades for years. It was a self-contained classroom; however, I did incorporate art. The students loved it and I saw their confidence level increase as they were able and free to do more and more with their art. So many of them thought they couldn’t do anything with art. I first had to make each one of them realize that they each did art a different way and that nobody was they same. That, alone, broke down many barriers that so many of them had. It was exciting as the school year went along, how so many of them let their creative juices flow.

the art work of a certain kindergarten teacher’s children always were the best of each year on display.When asked what her secret was to get such results she said,

I have read every word of this letter and all the comments. Reason: I will be doing something similar for my 4 year old grandson’s kindergarten class. The teacher says we only have about 20 minutes or a bit more to keep their attention. I have been agonizing over what art to have them do. Should it be a simple shape — round with pointed ears, whiskers, etc. to make a cat? Should it be just abstract moving around of paint? I am not a teacher of children, but I have participated at an elementary school where every 20 minutes a different class (from kindergarten through sixth grade) came through and watched me create a simple pastel painting of a tree and they were allowed to ask questions. What to do? How to make it only fun and also a memory of “doing art!” Any ideas? I have read some things above that have sparked some thoughts. And, I will re-read it again for more inspiration of what to do for those 4 year olds! I do look forward to it!

When my older daughter, Jackie, came home from kindergarten with a handful of lovely, colorful drawings of her family, I couldn’t help but be curious about the two large dark circles centered on ‘mommy’s face’ (with legs, arms, lots of fingers, long hair and a smile attached). Jackie’s response,”Nostrils. When I look up at you, I’m looking up your nostrils.” Out of the mouths of babes!

The first thing they should teach on the first day of Art Education class is that when children are making art, they are extremely vulnerable. This is why many people as adults remember every single snide remark made by an insensitive teacher, or pick up on negatvity. A teacher in an art class is not having casual conversation, she is providing an experience that leaves her students richer for life, or wounded and afraid of making things. They also overvalue famous artists, leaving adults saying, “Well, I’m no Picasso.”). These seemingly indelible ideas provide a cracked foundation for future work, and have to be worked through in order to be vulnerable again.

I guess that persistence pays off!

I enjoyed your column describing your foray into the Kindergarten class. Having taught many art classes with children of many ages myself, at some point I took a tip from the Impressionists and stopped giving them any brown or black – maybe a little only at the tail end of a project, for an accent of some sort – then hope for the best. This helps a little bit.

I wish I could have been a mouse in the corner watching you with all those kids. I would have been taking notes.

Your writing is terrific, Robert–the kindergarten art class piece a treasure. Keep teaching! (And writing and painting and walking and…..)

I’ve not been reading the newsletters of late, too much stuff to do, but certainly am glad I saw this one.

As someone who runs ‘Sensory Arts’ sessions for young people and their families, latterly with children and their families with disabilities, I am reminded that your perceptions about what happened in that session through the lens of your experience was only a fragment of what this means to the child.

I have a grandchild in 5 year old kindergarten in California and I can really relate to this article. My little guy loves painting and of course I encourage him as much as I am able. When I visit I take paper and paints and we always spent our time together one on one painting each day that I am there visiting. This has kept us so close now at 5 he phones me here in the Okanagan from Cupertino, Ca and we chat at least once a week. His usual opening is Hi Grandma guess wheat I made or did today, the very best was last year when he told me about making, drawing and painting his own comic book. His paintings are hanging all around his parents kitchen and have been since he was about 2 1/2. We all love “painting” and I loved this article, it is amazing how little ones love to be near those of us who just ‘sit around and paint”.

Painting is like everything else I love. Every now and again I’d like to wring it’s neck.