Archives

Painting Lessons From A 3 Year Old

Jan31

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything aside from lists of things I want to do, and the things from my lists that I have done. And that’s not what I want my blog to be, so I’m not doing that this year. I still have my list, and I’m still crossing things off, but I’m not posting about it. Instead, today I want to talk about art. Because with a name like A Desire to Get Creative, this blog should have a LOT more creative posts.

My daughter Charlotte is now 3 years old, and lately she’s been wanting to paint a lot. I have acrylic paints and brushes and canvas board, and we are using them. It’s a lot of fun to watch her. She mixes the colors to see what happens. She swirls the brush onto her canvas board, and then she’ll make dots, and then she’ll zig zag the brush back and forth again and again. She gets one color, then goes for another. She never rinses the brush, she never waits for the paint to dry before choosing the next color… She just has fun. She enjoys the process. And I really admire that about her.

So the other day, I decided to take a page out of her book. I did my best to just imitate her style. I chose some colors and just had fun. And when I thought I was done and it looked great, I asked her how it looked, and she told me with childhood honesty, “Actually… it doesn’t look that cool.” And I laughed. And I kept working. And I asked again, “Char, how’s this? Now is it cool?” And she said, “No, Mommy, it’s not cool yet.” And I painted more, and covered up parts I didn’t like, and mixed more colors, and by the time I finished this time, and she told me that now it was cool, I realized that I absolutely LOVE the finished picture. Not only do I love it, but it’s better than it had been at any of the previous stopping points. I actually was thinking of giving up, and would have, that first time I asked her opinion. But by continuing to work on it, I was able to come up with something that is, if I do say so myself, stunning.

So now is the fun part: our own little art show. Charlotte’s first online exhibit! (And my own painting, which is the last one.)

Charlotte’s painting for Aunt Krissy’s office.

 

Charlotte’s painting for Grandma and Papa.

 

Charlotte’s painting for her cousin Kahlan.

 

Charlotte’s painting for her own bedroom wall.

 

My painting, trying to capture Charlotte’s style.

100 Things, 2017: December Update

Dec30

I slacked off with my posting and updates, and I slacked off on the “doing Things” part of it too. I’m not gonna do a complete update, but I did check off things on my official list in my 2017 My Shining Year workbook. Saturday night, December 30, and I’m at 49/100 done. I’m bummed because I wanted to beat last year, which was 58/100. So my goal for the next 26 hours is to do as many Things as I can…. which is just 5 more. The videos (#7-#9) will be easy. I can also write a poem (#22), and do 20 minutes of silent meditation (#24). So that will bring me up to 54 – it’s more than half, and only 4 less than 2016. I can settle for that.

Another goal for the next 26 hours is to write my list of 100 Things to Do in 2018, and to work on other activities from the 2018 My Shining Year workbook. (Actually, I think I’m gonna backtrack to the first year, which was 2010 and I still have the ebook on my computer.) I’m going to write things from the ebook into a notebook that I can color and doodle and write in throughout the year.

 

If you click on the progress bar in the right side of the page, you can see the complete updated list.

100 Things, 2017: September/October Update

Oct31

43/100 – Thing 62 – take Charlotte on a picnic at Bowdoin Park, 9/8/17
It wasn’t a picnic, but Charlotte and I went to the park with my parents to play at the playground. And we did sit at a picnic table and eat Smartfood White Cheddar Popcorn, so I’m counting it.

44/100 – Thing 66 – go to the Mid-Hudson Valley Gem & Mineral Show (September-ish), 9/16/17
I was so excited to go to the gem show, because this year I actually saw my high school Earth Science/Advanced Geology teacher! I have gone to the annual show a few times since graduating, always hoping to see him. I took Earth Science as a Freshman, and then chose to take his Advanced Geology class as a Junior. And then, he asked me to come help him out when I was a Senior so I was a student teacher for him. He took up a half page in my Senior yearbook when I asked him to sign it, and I stapled on the opposing page the graduation card he gave me, which had another long personal note for me. I’m sad that we lost touch, and surprised he still has the same email address he had when I graduated 17 years ago! I was almost giddy when I saw him again, and I’m glad to have another chance to keep in touch.

45/100 – Thing 43 – throw Charlotte a 3rd birthday party, 9/23/17
We had a great day! After going apple picking (that should be on my List next year) the Sunday before, we made an apple cake for Char’s birthday party. It was delicious. I used a yellow cake mix and added a teaspoon of cinnamon. I left out the oil, and instead I used two grated apples, and two diced apples. I used a plain white buttercream frosting. My mom was concerned that I added cinnamon and no sugar, but the sweetness of the apples balanced it out. Charlotte had a wonderful birthday, and her favorite present is definitely her LeapPad tablet from Grandma and Grandpa!

46/100 – Thing 26 – attend a flea market, 10/7/17
Mark and I left Char with Grandma and Grandpa, and went to the Stormville Flea Market. Wow, is it huge! The land used to be an airport, and the rows of vendors go on and on. We didn’t buy anything aside from food, but… we did have some really yummy food! It was fun, and it was nice to basically have a date with my husband.

 

Things Done Each Month:
January – 8
February – 10
March – 6
April – 5
May – 2
June – 2
July – 7
August – 2
September – 3
October – 1

If you click on the progress bar in the right side of the page, you can see the complete updated list, even before my monthly update posts at the end of the month.