making art with true

One of my favorite photos of True, ever. His little beaming, proud smile while he stands next to his latest masterpiece. Mama pride, through the roof. Not even sure it's pride really, but rather I'm just so glad for him, for his happiness.


True and I have weekly art dates. Super simple, no fuss. We simply gather together at the easel in our dining room, squeeze out the paints, and he GOES FOR IT. I show him a couple things (mainly texture stuff, mark making with his fingers, twirling his paint brush around, stamping paint with a sponge - that sort of thing), and off he goes. 

I love studying how he goes about it. What choices he makes - where he chooses to make a mark, what colors he chooses. I make a conscious effort to stay out of his way and not lead him too much. I'm always surprised how he never seems to muddy up his paintings or over do it. He just seems to know when to stop, declaring it done. I find this utterly fascinating to watch. 

See what  I mean about the way he spreads his colors and marks around and knowing when it's complete? He gets a little excited :). We've been hanging up his paintings all over the house. I find that if we use washi tape on the walls, it doesn't rip off the paint and besides, the washi tape is cuuuttte. 

Sometimes he'll come to the studio and sit at the table and paint there as well. Gosh, he's getting so big (2.5 years old!).

And other times I find him sitting quietly at his table coloring or drawing - he definitely prefers pens to crayons and markers. 

The other day he finished this watercolor painting and marched with it all around the house exclaiming, "I'm an artist! I'm an artist!" to which John and I confirmed and celebrated. He's also a storyteller ("Once upon a time there was a purple giraffe....the end!") and a singer ("Hey Jude, don't be afraid....) and dancer and lover of reggae music (he has a strange fascination with Bob Marley - he can recognize "reggae" the second he hears the beat and screams "It's reggae!!!") and so much more. This kid is awesome.
Our favorite kid art supplies:
Gotta have an easel. We like this one.
Gotta have an apron/smock (long sleeves!). We have several, including this one.
Gotta have FUN paintbrushes that make cool/kid-loving marks, like these.
Gotta have watercolors and paints - we love anything made by Alex (esp their sparkly paint) or Melissa + Doug.

PS: Here's a quick video of True singing "God Bless America" which seems to be this weeks obsession (last week it was "Hey Jude"). Mimi (my mom) taught him the words...super duper cute.