“To draw, you must close your eyes and sing” -Pablo Picasso (this quote is featured on our Daisy Graphic Tee)
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” -Pablo Picasso
I loved the above Picasso quote, because it was exactly what I needed to do when I was designing our Spring 2011 Catalonia collection – reconnect with the artist of my youth. This was a great lesson for me and something I hope stays with me over time. I try to instill these ideas in my younger cousins who I often have drawing/art sessions with. The younger of the two is 5 and she fully embraces her inner artistic child. She draws with no fear and complete creativity. The 12 year has started having doubts. He’s constantly self critiquing his work and wants to be able to draw more realistically. He has the desire to grown and learn and I want to encourage that. I do my best to encourage them and to hopefully lessen the fear of failure.
Here’s some things I do to help them feel special about everything they do:
1. Frame their artwork. Kid’s love this. It makes it feel like their piece is really appreciated. My grandma would do this with everything we painted. We wouldn’t bring any art home until it was framed – which made us so proud to show them off!
2. Ask for help. I often admire the way they draw and ask them to show me how to draw like that. I’m an adult, they have the impression that I know what I am doing, so when I ask for help they know they must be doing something really unique if I can’t do it.
3. Turn their art into something. Last year I had them both design t-shirts. I took their drawings and got print on demand t-shirts with their designs. They were so excited when the shirts came in. I remember the younger showing it off to my aunt, “Look grandma it’s a REAL shirt!!!.”
How do you encourage the young artists in your life?
An example of how great decorating with your children’s art can look! – found on Pearl Street
