Paint and play

Every Wednesday Sophia looks forward to going to paint and play. This is a playgroup set up weekly in a park by a resourceful set of volunteers. They have about nine different stations set up with different activities: puzzles, instruments, books, giant lego, tunnels, craft, play doh, bubbles, and baby toys. Children can roam from area to area at leisure. It is really nice that it is outdoors and the kids are outside no matter what the weather. And then there is the painting. They set up about eight easels for children to use. There are smocks dangling from a drying rack and a table set up with tubs of brightly colored paint and big thick soft brushes perfect for small hands. When a child completes a painting they get hung up on a line with clothespins to dangle an dry in the wind. It is set up so well that even the one year olds can paint fairly independently. 

 

I really enjoy watching the children paint. It never ceases to amaze me that they have such vision and confidence. I have yet to see a child deliberate and think too much. They just go for it. Some children have a certain style. For example, Tova is fond of putting large smears of black on whatever she has drawn. One little two year old paints non stop for about an hour without losing focus. Some of the older children do draw images (people and houses and flowers) but mostly there is an array of the most modern of modern art. And some of the paintings are truly inspired.  We paint at home too but it isn't nearly as appealing as the painting on offer at paint and play. 

 

Sometimes I imagine how much fun it would be to create a paint and play for adults. But then I realize as adults we would deliberate and think and self chastise and spent far too long creating paintings that are not nearly as interesting as the ones the two year olds make. And we would compare our paintings with those of the other painters (something the children rarely do). But perhaps if we did it often enough we could refind some of that unspoiled vision and confidence that we had as children. 

 

Sophia really payed attention to the aboriginal artists

Tova's latest masterpiece

Another work of genius

Better than an art gallery