Arty Books

Are you getting tired of the recent spate of painting posts?  We've just started introducing Pita Pocket to the world of painting, and it's so exciting that I can't help but post about it!  Last week he did wet-on-wet watercolor painting for the first time.  At first just dipping the brush over and over in the rinse water was thrilling enough:

But soon he was exploring the color red and actually laughing as he watched the bright color appear on his paper:

We also played with fingerpaints one evening.  Both the boys had a ball with this one (what kiddo doesn't?):

 

Pita Pocket also decided that using his wet hand towel to wipe his paper had an interesting effect:

As the weather continues to turn colder we'll be doing more and more open-ended art sessions like these.  The Mister gave me a wonderful book focused on preschool art for my birthday.  I liked it so much that I immediately ordered the book for toddlers and twos the very next week.  If you haven't seen these great books by MaryAnn Kohl, do check them out.  They are chock full of simple ideas.  What I love most about them is that they are all process based; I think a lot of time when adults do art with children they have a bit of an agenda (if that makes any sense).    I have no problem with doing an occasional seasonal/holiday focused craft or four, but I think sometimes we parents can get so caught up in wanting art time to be "educational" or "focused" that we forget that simply handing some paint and a blank canvas to a child can be the most educational experience of all!  It looks like I'm going to be heading up a small once-monthly art group for Short Pants, Pita Pocket, and a few of their friends soon.  Wish me luck!

Comments

[Christy]

Sounds like fun -- good luck!!

[Dionna]

We did some wet on wet watercolor painting in a co-op class this past summer. My son thought it was pretty cool, I bet he'd like it even more now that he's a little older. Thanks for the reminder :)

[Sharon]

nice idea using the baking sheet as a paint board.

[One hook wonder]

Thanks for the comments. I'm trying to think of something witty to say but my head hurts too much. :p