While in Reston at the VAECE conference, I saw video clips of a little girl so enthused with painting she actually painted a table in her classroom. Her nonplussed teacher walked over with a large piece of paper which she laid on the paint. The little girl then used her hands to press the paint onto the paper. When she carefully pulled up the paper she had a beautiful creation that could never be duplicated and completely of her own making.
I had to share this with the class during morning circle last week and as you could imagine, they were ready to go. We got involved with moving furniture and setting up our new art center and the idea was forgotten - or so I thought. Last Thursday Sam brought the subject up and asked if we could give it a try and so we decided Friday would be the perfect day. Mother Nature got in our way (Again!) so Sam ever so gently reminded me yesterday morning that he still thought it would be a great deal of fun. It was then we got word that the drama room would be in use and we could not have yoga time with our buddies. An idea was born.
After fruit break play Kim's class came in and sat down to wait for instructions. I declared the day "Paint Day" and Kim and I began pulling out sponges, brushes, paints, spray bottles, water, rocks, an easel, paper and one covered sensory table. Sam knew instantly what to do and he and his buddy began to paint the sensory table. He pulled off the paper and the real fun began. Students in both classes began asking what other surfaces could be painted and before you know it the easel had been covered with paint waiting for paper to remove the work of art.
As I pulled too many to count works of art off the "drying window" this morning I marveled at the drips, swirls, runs and smears that made up the body of their masterpieces. We all know deep down that we wish we could produce the art that made a few famous and more very happy but probably have forgotten that art isn't really about the product. It is the process that brings a childlike joy and draws us in to the world of creating. It took an unknown little girl in a video and a little boy with the idea that it was worth pursuing a new way to find that old joy. I hope you'll let these children lead you to rediscovering the artist within yourself. I know that I woke this morning with a new idea on an old method of oil painting. Thank you Sam and little girl in a video!
No comments:
Post a Comment