Big, Blank, White Paper
Store shelves are full of all kinds of the latest, greatest art supplies, and I have to give them credit for their creativity trying to make art less messy. I agree it is important to keep your furniture paint free and your walls their proper color but art doesn’t have to be messy or stressful. And you don’t need the latest packaged art supply to get your kids busy creating wonderful art.
Art is a fun, every day activity that kids will choose over TV and video games if given the opportunity, and it doesn’t have to wreak havoc on you or your house. Here are some basic steps to growing an artist and bringing the creative side of your child out into the open.
First, start with big, blank, white paper and a pack of markers, or crayons or colored pencils. That’s it. Young children are still developing their fine motor skills so it’s important to give them plenty of room to practice using those little fingers. A good size paper is 11”x14”. I like loose paper but you can also go with a spiral bound pad of paper. This is still a good size workspace for elementary ages as well.
Second, learn to talk art with your child. I’ll write more on this in another article but for now I’ll just say, make observations. For example, “You used a lot of red.” Or “Your lines feel sharp.” Or “ The page is full all the way to the edges.” This kind of verbiage is non-judgmental and recognizes their drawing without making it about acceptance or performance. It also begins to develop your child’s art vocabulary. Feel free to use words like symmetry. “Your work is symmetrical.” You can explain briefly that means balanced, and point out where in their work you see that. Your child doesn’t have to know the exhaustive meaning that minute; they will grow into those words as they are used.
Third, do not draw for your child. It’s tempting, I know, but don’t let them talk you into it. You have a few decades of experience looking at things and maybe even drawing but this is new to them and they can’t meet your perceived standard. Your child may want to give up drawing and will consider their artwork not good enough next to your ‘dog’ or ‘monkey’. If you want to join your child in drawing get your own piece of paper and draw only loose shapes – I call what I draw with kids, “designs”. They will begin to use the same observant language to comment on your work. “Your colors feel soft.” “You drew three different designs in three different colors.” These descriptions will serve you both well out in the world too. Look for things to describe at the park, driving in the car and bedtime. These observations will find their way into your child’s artwork and you will get to see their world through their eyes and their art.
Finally, relax. Time spent making art is time well spent for both you and your child. This relaxing activity is an investment in self-control, imagination and communication. Keep that paper drawer full and get to know your child better through art.