The teachers at Mikey’s school tell me often how gifted Mikey is when it comes to drawing. I have three theories regarding the nature of this praise.
- They are trying to cushion the “we think your child needs 7 years of preschool” blow with a few compliments tossed in here and there.
- Mikey attends school with the largest group of socially mature, yet artistically inept, preschool-aged children in southern California.
- Mikey knows his way around a pack of Crayolas and I should encourage his creative endeavors.
Of course I’m going with No. 3. It’s the option that fits best with my competitive nature and enormous ego. Besides, we have a few artists in the family, so if Mikey has talent he comes by it naturally. My brother is a video game designer (art! only animated! and with violence!) and my aunt is a fine artist in Argentina who spent a number of years in Italy restoring paintings for museums.
Oh, and one more reason I’m hanging my hat on No. 3? I have total and complete artist envy. Ever since I was a child, and still to this day, I wish I was artistically inclined. I suppose I can fight the passive voice and mend split infinitives as well as the next blogger, but what can I say? The grass is always greener and I wish I could draw. So to all you graphic designers out there: good job, keep up the good work, and try not to make it look so easy because I am totally jealous of your little mood boards and funny posters and cheeky Christmas cards you send out every year.
Back to Mikey. I had to take my mother-in-law had to the train station last night. I thought her 12+ hour ride would be more comfortable with a few snacks, and I asked Mikey to draw a picture of Gaga Pam on the snack bag. When I came back, this is what he handed me.
I know it doesn’t look like much, but for a 4-year old it’s pretty good, and for whatever reason, I completely fell in love with this little drawing. I didn’t want to give it to my mother-in-law. I wanted to hand on to it and frame it. Something about those bright white earrings slay me in a million little pieces. (You can click on it to make it larger)
Courtney from My Sunset Road (so talented!) suggested I immortalize it with embroidery, and that she too wants to embroider some of her children’s drawings. The only problem? We don’t know how to embroider, and I don’t even know how to transfer the pattern. Do I just use a light-box and use the picture as a color reference? I really want to try this. I have a family wall of pictures and love the idea of incorporating some embroidered portraits to the mix.
Any suggestions? Has anyone done this before with a modicum of success?
First, I believe anyone can draw. It may not be up to your expectations without a lotta practice, but it's all about seeing. You have the hand eye thing down already.
If I taught my husband to draw, then anyone can do it : )
Second, do you have a sewing machine? Practice on paper with a really long stitch. If it's too small it will perforate the paper.
Look here:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=stitched%20paper&w=all
There are oodles of mounting ideas… fun project!
You must be good at designing, draw one side and flip it.
I heart the legs.. spindly!
AND, Courtney makes my favorite, favorite necklace and earring. I am wearing one now. I am so lucky that we see each other at shows.
You can digitize the drawing i think. But then you need to find a sewing/embroider machine that can take the digitized file and produce it. I’m not much help, aren’t I? Sounds complicated, I know. But thought I’d throw it out there for you anyway.
Just had to chime in and say, I’ve done this before too. Not the embroidery, but rather, having my child make something for someone else and then falling in love with it and needing to keep it! The first time my 3 year old drew my husband complete with glasses, I just couldn’t part with that.
Mikey’s work is indeed awesome, and while I’m not sure if drawing ability gets passed on genetically, it seems to me that creativity and artistry of all kinds is. You certainly seem to have both, so he’s a lucky kid.
PS in art school there were times that they actually preferred we “make marks” rather than “draw.” Once I broke out of the mode of trying to draw perfectly realistic representations of everything I saw and started “drawing” from a more emotional place, my work flourished. Actually, I’m glad you posted about this as it’s a nice reminder to me, to keep doing that making things less about the image and more about the idea. Thanks!
Amanda Blake Soule has a section in her book The Creative Family about creating embroidery, fabric transfers and softies using your childrens art. If you don't have her book already you should run out and get it this second because it's *so* inspiring. I can't wait to see whatever you do with this drawing.
And thanks Becky & Poem gal! Becky, our admiration for eachothers work is a very dangerous thing..we need to MAKE money at these shows!
Brilliant idea! I have no suggestions. I was wanting to do this a couple of months ago with a picture I found but, gave up. I will be interested to see what you come up with.
What a great idea! And a perfect drawing. I’m going to have to do this once Zoey’s drawings graduate from scribble.
Ok, resident preschool teacher here. The drawing is fabulous. For his age this is heads and tails above where he ‘should’ be. Most children his age are not as detailed, use one color to draw the complete picture, and earrings …. Fuh-get about it! Are there any children’s art classes around you? Because as a teacher I would seriously think about nurturing that skill. As a mom I would so brag about it.
Aww, thanks Kendra! :) There is an affordable art class for his age at the museum, but unfortunately it falls on MWF, which is when he goes to school. I’ll have to look and see if they offer any other days, because I know he would get a real kick out it. Oh, and the drawing is wearing a red v-neck, which is what my MIL frequently wears.
http://justpurelovely.typepad.com/justpurelovely/2008/02/turning-a-child.html
Thanks, Colleen! That’s perfect, thanks. :)
I LOVE THIS SIMPLE AND HAPPY PICTURE!!! If it’s a self portrait, shoot me an email and I’ll share with you a few facts about a child’s self portrait and what it means. One of the way Psychologists analyze a child’s emotional state is by doing the “house, tree, portrait” test. Very interesting. He looks like a very very happy boy!
Have you also thought about copying it somewhere professional and matting and framing that?
Oops, I see it’s a picture of grandma. Still, I can share a few thoughts with you. Get him to draw himself sometime, those are always so cool to see. You can get him to do it once a year and save ’em up. How cool of a series would that be?!?
Seleta, it’s a picture of my MIL! I’ll have Mikey draw a picture and shoot it off to you. I’m curious to see how he draws himself. And, yes, a little nervous! :)
This is all I have of this drawing. The bag/drawing went w/ MIL to Colorado to say goodbye to grandma. But, I printed out the picture this afternoon on fine, matte photo paper on my good printer and I have to say it looks great! I am going to frame and hang it on my gallery wall. :)