Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Paint Me a Memory

Art Class in my grammar school was taught by the cat lady. You know the type: long flower-patterned skirt, loose-fitting blouse and frizzy hair with a butterfly barrette. Her clothes, and anything she touched for that matter, were usually covered in cat fur. For me it was the late 70's early 80's so the fashions were closer to the hippie generation than they are today. (Actually this is returning, and not for the first time, see 1993). But my teacher whose name escapes me was a very free spirit. I recall a lot of paintings of peace symbols and unicorns. She spoke in a wispy voice that floated on the musty air-conditioned breeze like the call of something wispy. She asked her class of second graders to reach deep within the vastness of their young souls and create, with water-based paints, that which could transcend the plane of reality and unite with the oneness of humanity. Huh? Actually she turned the art room into a time warp. We tied on our art smocks and  the next thing we knew it was time to go.

Dads (and moms too) can learn a lot from Miss Greenpeace and add her lessons to your arsenal. I will admit that I used to detest getting the kids set up for painting. If you have only one kid, then it is pretty easy. The age of the child matters too. Really young ones may have trouble understanding finger painting and instead use it as a dietary supplement. My kids love to paint, and when I suggest it to them they are truly excited. It's the kind of excitement that makes you happy to be a parent, and even happier that you have brought such joy to another human being. Finger painting is an OCD nightmare. I was always too preoccupied with the potential messes before - during - after. But honestly, I make a bigger mess in the kitchen baking brownies; water-based paint cleans quicker and easier.

My point here is: the kids will really immerse themselves in their art. Sure, some kids don't care for it much, but the vast majority really get a kick out of it. (Many times the kids' aversion to painting stems from their parents' own bias). Plus it is an excellent stimulant for their creative minds. Some people don't put much emphasis on this type of development, reasoning that math and science are where it's at. But I will argue this until I am blue in the face, Read this if you doubt. Artistic expression is part of the overall and even development of the human mind. The Greeks knew a thing or two about being well-rounded.

The best part of this is not the time they will be occupied, nor the joy and happiness you bring them by allowing them to be productively messy, nor the healthy mental and emotional stimulation which accompanies such activity. Rather, it is the wonderful collection of art they have created from the vastness of their young souls which transcend the plain of reality and unite with the oneness of humanity - huh?

You'll be proud enough to put their work on the refrigerator and on the wall. A little keepsake of the day that, with care, can be brought out on their wedding day in an embarrassing speech by the father of the bride.

Happy painting!

1 comment:

  1. The room has lots of different shade of blue going on. While I was at Home Depot (looking on the oops shelf of course) I spotted the paint chips. DING---make something out of those! http://www.thecoatingstore.com/Color_Changing_Paint.html

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