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Recently, I babysat my two grandsons for a few days as their parents welcomed a new brother into their family.  They are three and five, free spirited, fun loving boys.  They love to make art, especially my five year old.  As I packed to go to my sitting assignment, I filled a bag with paints, brushes, pencils and crayons.  Great rolls of canvas were rolled up, anticipating some frenzied art exploration.  We were going to have FUN.

As artists, I think we sometimes forget the pure child view of what art truly can be.  In its simplicity, in its color for color's sake, its imagination and wonder.  The first evening, we painted with brushes on a large canvas.  I can't think of anything we made in particular, as it was mostly colors and shapes.  The next afternoon, we took the large canvas outside and worked with "drip painting".  Excitedly they poured liquid here, then there.  It was amazing how CLEAN they kept themselves.  They were focused on the canvas and getting the colors where they wanted.  Then we tilted the canvas, and colors combined!  They were amazed, as if I had made an elephant disappear!  We worked until the paint ran out, and darkness forced us indoors.  The painting was laid out to dry in a room to itself, frequently checked on by the boys. 

The next day, we worked on Play-Doh sculptures, mixing colors, making shapes and using cutting tools.  Then the "Grandmama, can we paint now?" started.  I had brought some smaller canvas pieces, eight by ten inches or there about, and we put dabs of paint in the center, then folded the pieces and squished!  I was as excited as they were when we opened the canvas to see strange, colorful designs...and we had a great time deciding if they were really "something" or just something beautifully colored.  Soon the walls of their playroom were papered with butterflies of color, bears and jellyfish in orange and gold, blue and green fountains, and creepy colorful bugs.  

It is so easy to put a child in front of a screen (large or small) and let them occupy themselves, but what lasting wonders we enjoyed those few days by following art.  I will always remember it, and they were thrilled when I brought their finished artwork, stretched and gallery wrapped, to hang on their walls.  I hope they will continue to love to create as they grow older...and I'm looking forward to the day when I will have some company as I paint plein air adventures. 

When we encourage a child to dream, to wonder, to explore, to think on their own, we give them gifts that will last a lifetime.