The sun shone briefly yesterday morning. It was enough to believe we had an opporunity to paint our front fence.
However only a very small section of the fence was completed before the rain commenced again.
We were using paint brushes however I am keen to try the ‘sock method’ once the sunshine returns (read ‘Green Eggs and Cans’ recent post about her sock painting technique).
So my painting pursuits moved indoors.
It was a chance to paint a fun sign for our Little One’s cubby house (it’s important to let the fairies know where to go).
If you ask a room full of children “who can paint a polar bear” all hands will go up. Ask the same question to a room full of adults and you would be lucky to witness one raised hand.
As adults, when did we loose our belief that we can do anything? When did we start believing excellence is required before partaking in an activity that interests us? (hence hindering many from ‘having a go’).
You can paint a polar bear. Not being exceptional at painting polar bears is irrelevant (just ask a child).
So if you have always wanted to explore your creative side, just give it a go. At worst you will have fun, at best you may discover with practice, you become exceptional.
P.S the wood used for the sign was recycled from around our home.
Update ** Here are photos of the finished cubby house sign.
Greener Me 
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We lose the art of creative play at around 6 or 7, when the word ‘should’ enters our psyche and solidifies as our inner critic. I once took an Art day at a primary school and it was alarming how the creativity became increasingly stifled as the ages in each class increased. Playfulness is the portal for creativity and self expression.Sock painting sounds great – I’ve got a fence to paint, I’ll give it a go!
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Hi Ian, how lovely to ‘meet’ you. Thankyou for sharing what I consider words of wisdom.
I am interested in your thoughts on children’s colouring books? Black lines indicating where children ‘should’ colour (if you get my drift).
Fun, play, creativity and even laughter are ‘skills’ to be treasured, nurtured and supported with children. It is a lie to promote that being an adult is to leave these skills behind.
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Lovely to meet you too! The lines are interesting. I think they have a use – initially for a kind of guidance to build confidence. But usually they’re too heavy and become a prison – I have adult students now that find it hard to let go of them! I love how kids drawings are really stories, the look of the end product doesn’t really matter to them – it’s the getting there that really counts!
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Ian thank you for your thoughts. The black lines is something I am aware of every time our Little One grabs a colouring book. I enjoy sitting with her to ‘play’ with these books together. It is very interesting what she picks up from watching me ‘colour in’ – different ways to hold pencils, using more than one pencil at one time, layering colour on top of each other and even mixed media (pencil and crayon together).
At two years of age she is my ‘colouring in’ teacher because she hasn’t learnt ‘can’t’ or ‘should’.
I love your story journey concept with children’s drawings. You are so correct – just sit with a child while they draw and you can see it.
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Yea it’s the playfulness that’s the key really…
Having the lines but not necessarily sticking to them if you don’t want to. It’s also important to kids to be able to recreate what they see, so it’s a melting pot!
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Thankyou Ian, I really appreciate your words and expertise. P.S. I love your ‘work’ – I am following your blog. Humbled that you are following mine.
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Cheers! I hope the rain clears and you can play with finishing the fence with the old socks! 🙂
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Sock painting? Yes! Why can’t I think of these things?! I have been painting trim for years! The bright side is I have a lot more left to paint, and it will be easier now. Who new blogging would raise my standard of living so much? I’m especially thankful for this circle of lady homesteaders!
And I’m so glad you brought up the issue of the lost art of play in adults. I listened to a great program about it a couple of weeks ago on NPR (npr.org or ipr.org). There’s actually quite a bit of research on how detrimental loss of play can be to adults and how beneficial it can be.
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April it sounds like you are getting a lot out of blogging (writing and reading). Glad my post was helpful.
I believe as adults life can rob us of fun and play. I enjoy asking people when meeting for the first time, not “what do you do for a living” but “what do you do for fun”. The listener is not expecting that question and usually totally stump for a response.
Here’s to more fun, laughter and play. 🙂
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Sock painting … sounds interesting! Kids will give anything a go won’t they? I’m still drawing stick figures 😀
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Julie someone in Australia has made a fortune from stick figures. Stick figure family stickers are all the rage here. You go and buy them to represent your family then place them on your back car window.
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Shall look forward to hearing how your sock painting goes. I imagine it will be perfect for getting the sides of the slats that are so close together and awkward to reach. Love the cubby sign and will wait expectantly for your painted polar bear 🙂
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If the rain would stop for more than 12 hours during the day, we may get around to sock painting the front fence. Can you believe it hailed again today?!? Third time it hailed this year. Nuts 🙂
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