Proud Mama

Being an artist, I have always tried to instill creativity in my kids. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t really know how one does that, other than exposure to different things, and maybe asking some thought-provoking questions about what they observe. I try to remain open as much as possible to their desire to make a mess for the sake of creating, but often, my efforts have fallen short.

Up until now, Max’s interest in drawing has been limited to a few scribbles on a page, completed in about 4.2 seconds, and then on to something else. He likes to write his name, which I’m thrilled about, and every time I would pick him up from preschool last year he would have at least one scribble drawing with his very well written name on top. I would always open up his backpack to see what he made that day, excited to see if he’d had any breakthroughs, but with genuine overall interest.  Always scribbles.

Sometimes I would catch one of the other kids showing their mom what they drew, and actually feel a little envious.  I know… it’s ridiculous.  I remember one little girl drew her whole family, complete with arms, legs, hands… the whole shebang. It was then that I finally decided his talents must just lie elsewhere. And I accepted that.

Then, almost out of the blue, about 2-3 weeks ago, an explosion happened in this house.  A creative explosion.  It involved chalk.  And crayons.  And markers.  All of a sudden, it all must’ve clicked for my little budding artist, because he’s been a madman with the sidewalk chalk, etc. ever since.  More than anything, I love to hear about his thought process.  “Mom, I’m going to draw you at the hobspittal having the baby”.  A few minutes later, he shows me his representation of a building with a face looking out one of the windows. 

“Is that me?”  I said. 

“No”. 

“Is it the baby?”

“No”.

“Well, who is it?”

“It’s me looking out the window, telling daddy it’s getting dark out”.

Priceless!

Here are some of his earlier works, in his self-portrait period: 

  

 

Yes, he may be wearing a skirt and a belly shirt in this one, but check out those manly shoulders (or boobs?)

 

 

Next, the Max train (I had to photograph it upside down & flip it, since it was too close to the house):

 

 

Two more to complete our sidewalk chalk series:

Crocodile

 

Uni-brow Octopus

 

 

And finally, my favorite to date- He’s big. He’s fierce.  He’s vegetarian.  Behold… the ginormous tree-eating monster:

 

 

 

I couldn’t be more proud! (Sniff, sniff)