Child at the Drawing/Writing Board
Posted on 26 January 2010
This is a sketch (pencil with watercolor) that I did of my youngest son when he was about 3 years old. I wanted to capture the beauty of small hands making marks. Facing a blank piece of paper is a very dynamic thing to do. That blank paper says, “What are you going to activate today?” I remember teaching at The Paideia School in Atlanta and then with the great teacher Peter Thorlichen at The Atrium School in the Boston area and my favorite thing in all the world was creative writing time. Asking a child to write meant that they immediately started to draw, and wondrously imaginative creations emerged from them. Gently we encouraged then to form letters into words, to add to their drawing expressions. Those written words were formed tenderly by those young hands, at the bottom of the page, under the magnificent art that they made. Peter would say to the children, “Don’t let your inner editor block you”, which is a term I still use today and tell myself often.
5 responses to Child at the Drawing/Writing Board
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I knew instantly who this child was – what a wonderful sketch and I love his expression — his imagination wheels are turning and he looks so pleased and eager to begin. Mom
[...] Source: theinnercoach [...]
I have always loved giving children a blank sheet of paper and seeing what emerges. when I worked in preschool I saw the most beautiful art through the children. There were so many paintings that moved me so much that I wished I could have taken them home and cherished them forever. I felt like I would be steeling their master piece though. Its also one of my favorite things to do with my grandson! I love the quote you shared – “don’t let your inner editor block you” What is so neat about very young children they are so free – their inner editor has not appeared yet!
that is a treasure, a child, a blake paper, and thier minds anything can happen, if it was my grandson it would become a car, he loves cars and draws them very well for 5-years they have a place on the fridg. hugs Linda
Your sketch is so beautiful…and the story with it so special and touching. We saved many of the early sketches
the children have made, and they love looking through them.
Again, this sketch is just lovely. What talent!