Every boy is a decorative artist. From drawing on each other with a Sharpie marker to arranging tacks just *so*, kids have a knack for freeing up their space with spontaneous decoration. This is because they want to, but mostly because they can. To them, art is an adventure in process, without agenda, so they never know what they’ll find or learn with each new experience.
For us well-meaning parents, it’s easy to overlook the differences between “art” and “decoration.”
Art happens when we get lost, even while decorating.
We didn’t know how beautiful the peach would look, after a purple bath.
Nor could we have predicted how refreshed we would feel after breaking for some oxalis.
When the parents let them be, quite magical things are possible.
and follow the adventure:
Great hand portrait! I was so absorbed in watching the paint that I completely missed those expressive fingers. I had to scrub the paint off Seth in the tub after the little tree house painting jaunt!
We spent the day in the garden one sunny day and painted rocks. It was so much fun! I love the times spent just letting kids be creative. They really do amaze you with what they can do.
lovely. beautiful photos. my boys enjoy working iwht things they find outside as well.
Love your site!!! Just came across it. I have 2 boys along with 2 girls. I will come visit you a ton. Lots of stuff for girls out there but to see boys be boys is wonderful. We do alot of it.