portrait painting
yesterday we busted out the acrylic paints, and novi began a self-directed portrait painting session.
artist at work
her favorite thing to do these past couple of months is to draw faces. so she brought that inspiration to her brushwork. i think it is so important for kids to have free art time, or open studio time, as we art therapists might say. often we come at them with directives and materials to “make something” but out of these free play times with art materials, so much growth and confidence blooms!
i thought i’d share some of her portraits here — all are her ideas, her brush strokes, her color choices, and her commentary in quotes. the one just below is her self-portrait with blonde hair, blue eyes/nose/mouth, and orange eyebrows. she drew an orange sunshine in the upper right and on the left, the letters “i o v” are for “novi” 
novi's self portrait
"daddy"
"novi & mommy. but novi doesn't want a body"
"guy with a sideways face & buttons"
"i'm painting over this one with water"
the one just above is my husband’s favorite. he says it’s “so zen.” novi’s first house picture showed up today, via purple crayon. i love this because i’ve never shown her how to draw a house (or a face, for that matter!) so it is an authentic representation of how se sees houses.
"this house has lots of windows"
i recommend doing “open studio” with your child at least as often as you do planned art projects or crafts with them. sit back and witness what images come to play with you!
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