Every child immediately becomes an artist the moment they pick up their first crayon and start scribbling on the walls.
Humans are born with an inherent fascination with patterns and colours, and an insatiable compulsion to create; some more than others.
Your child may be one of these gifted souls, someone who is born with the desire to make art.
You may sense that your child may be an artistic prodigy, or maybe they’ve explicitly expressed their interest in the arts.
The time has come for you to play your part. Aside from buying them art supplies, here are some things you can do to nurture your child’s inner Van Gogh.
Give Them Their Own Space
Art oftentimes requires seclusion and silence.
Your child may need to be in the zone in order to create works of art; so get them a designated ‘sacred space’.
This doesn’t necessarily need to be an entire room. You may not have much space in your home to convert into a child’s art studio.
So, a small corner of the patio or a private section in the backyard will do the trick.
Of course, you can definitely help them set up an art space in your child’s bedroom.
Just make sure it’s away from their bed and other important belongings. Making art is enjoyable but it can also be a messy process.
Help Them With Their School Art Projects
Most Malaysian public schools have an art curriculum, especially at the primary level.
Your child may often be asked to prepare for lessons (or even art exams).
So, this is the time to help them gather their supplies and if for a test, help them prepare for the questions.
This usually means producing the artwork in advance, sort of like a test run before the actual test. This will help your child know what to do.
Malaysian art classes usually present the test questions a day before the exam to let students decide on which artwork they want to do.
The test questions will usually feature art techniques that been taught in previous lessons.
Take Them to Art Galleries
Art galleries are a great way to expose your child to local talents and styles. While it’s important for them to develop their own artistic flavour, it wouldn’t hurt to introduce them the current trends.
Galleries and exhibitions will open their minds up to a whole new universe of artistic concepts and theories like surrealism, impressionism, expressionism and many more.
This will help them recognise their own style, by identifying similarities between their own artwork and those of distinguished artists.
It will also narrow down (or expand) their interest so they know exactly what kind of art they like and what they wish to pursue long term.
Buy Them Art Books
Art books a great alternative if you can’t take them to art galleries, or there aren’t any near where you live.
There are generally two type of art books, the ones that display other people’s works and the ones in which you make your own artwork.
The first type of art book can inspire your child and get their creative juices flowing.
The second category gets them to actually do some art.
There are many types of art practice books but the popular ones are colouring and watercolour books.
A good method of teaching your kids about colour theory is those paint-by-number exercise books.
A black and white outline of a drawing is provided. Each section of the drawing is number coded and each number represents a colour. All your child needs to do is match the right colour to the right number, thus completing the artwork.
Art Classes
If you can afford it, enroll your child in a legit art class.
This is will significantly offer more structure and substance to your child’s art education than a regular school subject.
With a formal (or semi-formal) art education, your child will be exposed to a world of knowledge they simply can’t get from books or art galleries.
Your child will be taught by trained professionals how to create proper art and the skills that are needed to be an artist.
Your kids will learn about perspective, proportion, material, shading, colour theory, and many more. If anything, it will definitely be an enjoyable experience for them.
Art as a Family Activity
As a final initiative, make art a regular family bonding activity.
If you really want to show your child you support their artistic pursuits, get your hands dirty. Participate in the artwork even if it’s just drawing a fruit bowl in the living room.
You can plan activities with the whole family over the weekend when you’re all together. Make sure to prepare all the materials in advance, too.
While you’re at it, you can even get a photo album or portfolio to store all your family art projects in. A book of memories and art album all rolled into one.
Who knows you may find a renew appreciation for art as an adult, and may even tap into your own unrealised artistic gifts.
If anything, making art is a huge stress-relieving activity that can do wonders for your mental health.
So, treat the occasion as a meditative and restorative experience as well.
Embracing Your Child’s Inner Artist
Not everyone who pursues art as a child grows up to become an artist.
In fact, the realities of adulthood eventually dawn on many of us, forcing us to choose safer, more predictable interests. Like sports or books.
However, there are more professional visual artists now in our lifetime than ever before.
With the rise of social media and electronic device, many have turned to producing digital art, which is fast overtaking traditional mediums.
Some also paint, draw or sculpt for pleasure and not business.
This means that art doesn’t have to be a lifelong pursuit or an impossible dream.
It can just as easily be a hobby and still fill your life with wonderment and beauty. And that is something that every child should experience.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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