Art is… by Bev Jackson Cotter

I love kids art. I love the simple lines, the bright colors, the stories behind the drawings and the honesty that accompanies each piece.

In the book “Meaning in Children’s Art” by Edward Mattil and Betty Marzan, we learn that the very early art done by children, the scribbling stage, is as important as the crawling stage when we are learning to walk or the babbling stage when we are learning to talk.

That child gradually processes through the developmental phases of drawn objects and eventually objects with characteristics that make them recognizable to the viewer. The book contains examples of drawings done by a 3-year-old and then others drawn every year through eighth grade when the characters are detailed and easily recognizable.

This process doesn’t just happen overnight and doesn’t happen without practice.

I’ve loved to draw as long as I can remember, and I wish that I had kept some of my earliest artwork. I do recall a third-grade creation. Three students from Mrs. Potter’s class were asked to do a chalk drawing representing a foreign country on the blackboard in our classroom.

My picture of the little Dutch boy with his finger in the hole in the dike was chosen to represent Holland. I was so honored. I’ve no idea where that story came from or if it even is a part of the folk tale heritage of The Netherlands. Anyway, in those days we didn’t carry photo taking devices all of the time, and the only picture remaining is in my memory.

How neat it is to think that maybe, somewhere back in time, a little boy who saw a tiny dribble of water in a crack in the dike had the presence of mind to hold his finger in that hole until someone came along to report the looming disaster to the authorities. He helped to save his country from being inundated by ocean waters. What a hero, and what an example for other children.

When I was in eighth grade, my good friend Joie and I were asked to illustrate a guidebook for upcoming eighth graders. We were to draw pictures defining the classes offered the following year. When I look back now on those drawings, I have to smile, but how neat it was to be able to draw something that could be used by others.

As I watch young children today, I wonder…

How much of their creativity is force-fed by television and video games?

How often are they handed a piece of blank paper and asked to draw something?

How often is their artwork prepackaged and given to them to assemble?

When do they have the opportunity to create, to draw or paint, something that is in their head — or their heart?

I have framed a delightful drawing done by my grandson when he was about 5 years old. We were sitting side by side in church, and he had been given a piece of paper that was mostly blank except for a small shepherd boy in the lower right hand corner. Chris proceeded to draw a water line near the top of the page and lots of fish swimming around.

By this time I was paying no attention to the sermon and curious about that underwater shepherd. No problem. As his final addition to the drawing, Chris gave him some scuba diving gear and goggles.

I have a lot of art pieces on the walls in my home, but none bring the smiles that the scuba diving shepherd does.

So often people say, “Oh, I can’t draw a straight line.” So what? You can use a ruler to help you with that one. What you really need is the enthusiasm and self-determination of a child. A child who believes that art is important.

With that in mind, mark your calendar for the second Saturday December through May. The Albert Lea Art Center is sponsoring children’s classes from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

The first class will be held Dec. 13 at the Festival of Trees at Northbridge Mall. Children grades 1 through 6 will have the opportunity to make a recipe book to be used as a Christmas present for Mom or Grandma.

The class will be taught by Laura Anderson and is free with all materials provided through the Larry G. Olson Foundation grant. Please call the art center at 507-373-5665 to register. Class size is limited to 10 students.

Let’s give your children the chance to create, appreciate art and understand that their own creativity is great!

 

Bev Jackson Cotter is a member of the Albert Lea Art Center.