Simple Sketches; Putting art in your daily life.

The easiest way to help your children make art is to have materials available in your home and near the dinner table. I know you may think that this is not the right place for art, but this happens the be the place where art will most likely happen. Making art is not a solitary experience for most. The fun of it is working side by side and enjoying the down time. Parents will have to participate to model that making art is ok, even if you are not "good" at it. Children usually stop making art when they realize that what they are making doesn't look like the "real" thing. Since when is photo-realism the marker for the best type of art? It is simply one type of art making style. Once they can get past this "perfection" model they can get to the part of making art that makes them calm and inspired and smarter. This is what we should all try to achieve:the art making process where we get a little lost and get into a meditative state. If you think of this state of creative being-ness as the goal when you sit down to make art AND you express this to your kids, then you can open the gates to the true reason for art in our lives. Do not focus on the outcome or the frame-able masterpiece that you and your child are going to make. This may happen twice a year, but not every time you sit down to make art. If you fall in love with the process, than the masterpieces follow. It is never in reverse.

Here are the items to have on hand to get started:
1. A big sketch pad or one for each of you.. oh the pride in having your own sketchbook. Try to get one that flips open at the top not the sides so that your hand doesn't have to rest on spirals and so the book can lay flat when fully opened.
2. A bunch of sharp pencils, a gummy eraser, and a "smudger" . Seriously you can use the #2's that you have around, a gray eraser that is gummy so that is doesn't make those eraser crumbles everywhere, a smudger can be your finger or the one you get at an art supply store with a tip. It is simply and rolled up piece of paper with a point.
3. A magazine picture of something the person loves, fashion, soccer players, a rock band, animals, etc...
4. Start doing it and watch over time as you and your kids start to make art as relaxation instead of seeking electronic stimulus.  This will translate into a reward that you and your children will enjoy ; the ability to go outside your comfort zone and explore other answers to questions; in art, in school, in work and in life.




Why ask why? by Seth Godin

The secret to creativity is curiosity.
We often forget to teach kids to be curious. A student who has no perceived math ability, or illegible handwriting or the inability to sit still for five minutes gets immediate and escalating attention. The student with no curiosity, on the other hand, is no problem at all. Lumps are easily managed.
Same thing is true for most of the people we hire. We'd like them to follow instructions, not ask questions, not question the status quo.
Yet, without "why?" there can be no, "here's how to make it better."
click below for his actual blog post 

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/01/why-ask-why.html