Tell a Story with Painting

My son recently spent a day home from school, his first “sick” day since he started first grade. I wasn’t being fooled, I knew he wasn’t really sick. But it was a Friday…and his sad eyes were too much for me. He loves to paint so we took out a large (12 x 18) piece of watercolor paper, a Sharpie and some liquid watercolors.

My only instructions were to tell a story and to use the whole page.

As his story got more involved, his gum-chewing stopped and his brow furrowed in concentration. His story and characters became more intense as they waged a battle to save the princess. At one point he drew a monster with an earring, just to be funny.

It’s so satisfying to watch your child experiencing complete flow…pure happiness.

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Thankfully, the camera battery was charged so I could capture his art in the making. Here’s a little movie about his art story, set to a Chopin waltz which fits his mood perfectly!

Storytelling through art feels so natural for children. Since they are almost always anchored in the moment, they have the freedom to create an intuitive story without trepidation. They trust their inner voice without judgement. It’s pretty amazing.

Kids are just trying to figure out what their place is in the world, so when they make story art that is meaningful to them, it puts words to their worries, their fears, and their dreams. They feel less anxious, less frightened, more at peace, and more connected to their family and their community.

I hope you try this activity that will spark your child’s imagination!

♥ Happy weekend! ♥

xo, Bar

DID YOU LIKE THIS POST? HERE ARE SOME MORE KID’S PORTRAIT IDEAS:

What Does Your Imagination Look Like?

Draw a Friend: Portraits

PS: Read this post for more storytelling art & craft ideas.