We don't really practice our painting skills much around here. I'm not entirely sure why, but even the words paint and Craunlets used together in the same sentence causes me to flinch. Which is kind of a shame, because more than anything, the Craunlets absolutely love making art. They are thoughtful, and creative, cautious [especially considering their ages] when creating in our carpeted dining room, and they wildly enjoy painting.
So, when they were approached by two of my colleagues to participate in the ArtCares, Jr. fundraiser for the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland this year, they jumped up and down in the gallery, and alternated shouting both yeses and pleas to be allowed to participate.
This week, they each received a 12x12 canvas, and excitedly began to paint around the table. Nate had three different studies on paper that he was referencing, and Bella was looking at one of her spread's in the family sketchbook when she first started drawing tree houses.
Nate had given the canvases a good coat of gesso while he whittled away the hours that Bella was at school that afternoon, and was eager to transfer his plan to the canvas. I let them use the real deal–deciding to get over my painting issues–and to let them feel the viscosity and mixing potential of acrylics, and get drawn in by the lure of deliciously saturated colors. Overwhelmed by the tubes of paint, and the gleaming white canvases, they elected to use my water soluble color pencils to first hatch out their plans onto their canvases.
From there, they were painting.
Re-envisioning their worlds, and pouring their hearts into the project.
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| Nate's Building World on the left; Bella's Trip to the Park on the right. |
I love the contrast of the finished results. The wild freedom of Nate's, and the regulated control of Bella's. And both so spot-on apropos to who they are right now, in subject, color and craft.
Tonight, we are headed to the reception and silent auction, to see their works on the wall.
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