OOPS! - It's Art!

Was there ever a time that you spilled something on paper and thought, "That looks kind of like a..... "(fill in the blank). Well I know it has happened to me. In my years of attempting to draw I've been drawn (yes, I see the pun) toward abstract works simply because I've lacked confidence in my abilities to portray realism. Abstract lines, colors and doodles give me the opportunity to explore and discover whatever the artistic muse presents.

Young children draw with abandon until about the time they get into second or third grade. Then they become concerned with doing things the "right" way. As I've worked with children in drawing classes, there are always a few who become anxious or upset as they attempt to put onto paper what they see around them. I know the feeling.

It doesn't seem to matter to the child that their drawing is still good, something about it just isn't "right". Sometimes I've encouraged a child to turn their 'mistake' into something else, perhaps a flower or a tree. Usually the child looks at me like I've lost my mind, says "That's NOT what I was drawing!" and throws away the initial drawing. Even though this is a self-imposed perfectionism, it still pains me and makes me concerned that a talented child will simply give up on art.

Perhaps that's why I enjoy a book by Barney Saltzberg titled Beautiful OOPS! The book is written especially for children but it will delight and inspire most artists. On every page Saltzberg describes an oops or mistake and engages the reader to discover how that can become an opportunity to make art.

Art for young children shouldn't be all about technique, it should be an adventure into the world of 'what if' and 'I wonder' and making something new. Discovery, problem-solving and imagination work together. 

If you have a child who seems frustrated by their perceived mistakes, try reading Beautiful OOPS! with them. You'll both enjoy it!