Art is about to happen...
Art is about to happen
This is magnificent. Art Is About To Happen by Viviane Schwarz, part treatise on empowering children as artists, part passionate plea to parents and adults in general to let children just go for it
Below are just a few of her illustrations for the post and a taster of the text
Here are some children. Here is a basket of colourful pencils.
Art is about to happen.The children know exactly what to do with this big basket of colourful pencils: dig with both hands. Dig right to the bottom.
The rattle of pencils is the ritual that has to come before the concentrated frowning and the murmured incantations: This is a lion. This is a lion. This is a lion. This is a tree. This is a tree. This is a tree.
Have you ever used one of those pencils?
Did you think: its a wonder what a childs imagination can do, I cant draw a THING with this?
No one can. We all tried. Some of us thought it was our fault and stopped trying.Those are fake pencils.
The reason these children are digging through them with so much energy is because they are looking for one that works. They know to go for the shortest nubbins at the bottom of the box. Ignore the long ones, no one else got anything out of them.
They are foraging, with great determination.
Imagine what that determination could do.
When a child makes art, its not a case of playing pretend. Its not like playing brain surgery with a spoon and a pudding. Its not like feeding a plastic doll. They are not playing artist.
THEY ARE ACTUALLY MAKING ART.
Viviane Schwarzs books are magnificent things, whether picture books (some from Schwarz solo, some with writer Alexis Deacon), graphic novels ( Sleepwalkers ) or fabulously non-categorised art/comic/make your own stuff books ( Welcome To Your Awesome Robot ). Theres also the somewhat more adult pieces, such as her diary comic Anxiety , which might well be her next graphic novel, or her rather more grown up picture book Rabbit Stew .Any and all of them are heartily recommended
Find out more about Schwarz at her website and at her Walker Books page .
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Great pictures!
Enjoy!
I did, thanks.
Buzz
Thanks for stopping by
I feel really sorry for young children who attend schools where art and music have been cancelled due to budget constraints. Both of those subjects are so important for the development of imagination and creativity.
By the way, Robert. I truly commend you for your contributions that make the Front Page so much more bearable.
In Beverly Hills the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles helps sponsor an art show twice a year. When we lived in LA my wife and I never missed one and the first booth we headed to was the one selling the art of children from the hospital. We have close to two dozen pieces we've bought from them. I swear many of the children are better artists then then the pros!
What a wonderful collection of art and these kids have talent. Thanks Robert for bringing it to us.
Great pics for sure!!!
After a hard day's work......
Perrie
You are most welcome
I am glad you liked them
Watching our children and grandchildren spread their creative wings is certainly one of life's great rewards for a parent.
Out youngest grandchild is now a sophomore in high school and we still have refrigerator pictures that he sent to us.
Buzz
Thanks for those kind words and feedback
And you are correct the loss of art, music and other elective subjects is one of the true education reform crises we are facing - we must educate, train and develop the whole child
M M
Sounds like a great place to visit and obtain early works of the next generation of artists.
Thanks for the feedback
Sixpick
Perhaps the next Picasso