Painting and Kids: How to Keep them Interested
never too young
If you gave a kid a choice between a paintbrush and easel and a hot, new iPad, without blinking an eye, he would most probably pick the iPad. Children are known to have short attention spans, and pretty much anything which involves moving things with a tap or a click of the finger will win over low-key activities such as painting on any given day.
But we adults know better that painting does a whole world of good to any child. It is a medium for kids to express their ideas and emotions as they explore colors, different processes in painting, and the outcome of those methods. And when they create a masterpiece of aesthetic proportions, it makes them- and us, of course- beam with unabashed pride. How do we get them interested in painting, then?
You can start them off by introducing them to different artists. You can visit museums, websites, or read books on painting. You can have them watch art programs on TV which are especially designed for kids. Help them find inspiration in everyday objects or experiences.
Try getting them cool art supplies. Get some brushes and paints in different colors and sizes. Having them paint on an easel will make them feel like a true artist. You can even customize or personalize it for them.
Once the painting bug has bitten them, you can keep them interested by showing genuine interest in their artwork. If you feign admiration, they will see through you. Value their efforts with sincere affirmation.
Encourage them to talk about their painting by asking open-ended questions. For instance, ask them, “What happened when you mixed red with yellow”? You can even have them create a story from their masterpiece.
You wouldn’t be able to count the benefits of painting on kids with the fingers on your hand even if you tried. They’re simply too many to count. Painting opens up new worlds of exploration and learning. Tap into that, and your kids will never be bored again.
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Winged Victory of Samothrace
Winged Victory of Samothrace
The Winged Victory of Samothrace also known as Nike of Samothrace is a sculpture honoring the Greek goddess of Victory, Nike. (The goddess of strength, speed, and victory. )
Being fond of Greek history and mythology I am grateful that through such I am able to view part of what the glorious city once was. It’s really unfortunate that only the remains are what we are to able to see now. This piece for example, estimated to have been created in 190 BC, though it has lost its head and arms shows how artists of the Hellenistic era execute precisely form and movement in their art.
As many of the Greek sculptures, parts are removable for easy transport but it makes losing the parts as easy too. The sculpture stands above the platform of the Daru Staircase, a perfect spot for visitors to view this grand work of art.
Daru Staircase, Louvre
*The shoe and sports equipment company Nike, Inc. is named after her.
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Blueness
Subtle, vintage, artistic and simple – words that I’d describe this image. Then again, a picture paints a thousand words and a painting in a picture would double that, so it’s up to you to interpret this piece. This is my latest photo favorite.
Image processed with Kim’s “not too shabby” texture. Sharing this to Texture Tuesdays and Blue Monday.
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Hundertwasserhaus
(My daughter inside the Hundertwasserhaus)
I’ve probably written about the Hundertwasserhaus and Hundertwasser in my other blogs but here, rightfully an art blog – hmmm, not yet.
Friedensreich Regentag Dunkelbunt Hundertwasser is a Jewish-Austrian architect and contemporary painter. He took courses at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna.
Hundertwasser is known for his boldly coloured paintings but his architectural style in irregular forms that are also incorporated into the landscape and setting of the buildings made him more popular. The Hundertwasserhaus, for an example, is an apartment block in Vienna with undulating floor, its roof is covered with earth and grass, and large trees grow from inside the rooms, with limbs extending out the windows…(I can’t find my photos yet). Imagine the photo above…this is just part of it…already looking like a painting itself.
Hundertwasser also designed the Fernwärme Wien – an incinerator in Vienna that provides the city with electricity, you can view the building here, it’s an old photo I took. And below is the toilet inspired by Hundertwasser’s style.
Trivia: Friedensreich are two words that means Peace and Realm respectively while Regentag mean rainy day, Dunkelbunt means dark/gloomy colored and Hundertwasser means Hundred waters, thus, the name is somewhat a representation of himself…and obviously an adapted name to fit his artistic lifestyle.
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