"Draw in the lines! Why are you scribbling like that? Put those crayons away, you're just making a mess! Since when are skies pink? Why did you make the head so big? Just let me do it for you.
" These statements are so common that people don't realize the damage they do.
As the founder of a very successful Fine Art School who has had the honor of giving thousands of courses to clients of all ages, I can say the damage goes well beyond artistic prowess.
Truth be told, most people will not become professional artists, so there's really no harm done, right? Wrong.
If you are teaching art exploration to your child or to a group of children, especially if you are not an artist yourself, I would like to share a little known secret that only artists really understand, but which is imperative to the healthy growth of our nation's children.
Art, whether it be painting, sculpture, dance, writing or music, is not simply a superfluous form of expression or distraction to occupy time when your child is bored.
As well, it is not just something to help create extra brain synapses to make your children smarter.
Both of these statements hold truth, but miss the greatest and most wondrous little known secret of all.
What's the secret? Art is a language unto itself.
In essence, I am trilingual.
I speak English, French and Art.
I am thankful to have learned the language of Art because when I was young I had a stuttering problem so severe that my main form of profound communication was painting and poetry.
Without it I would have crumbled; with it, I could speak.
The challenge with teaching and learning the language of Art is that it touches the essence of who we are so deeply inside that people are shy to do it poorly.
Have you ever traveled to a foreign country, tried to speak the language, and gave up because you were embarrassed when they giggled? Never will I forget a client at my art school who was in her 40's.
She started crying when I asked her to paint a flower.
A simple flower, not the Mona Lisa.
When we discussed it, the root of the problem became evident.
She had been told in elementary school that her drawing was messy and the other children laughed at her.
Sadly, her self-esteem had not yet developed to the stage where she could brush off the humiliation, so she gave up learning the language of Art.
Many of you might be thinking, "So what? Art is fun, but not necessary and everyone gets ribbed at school.
" True, life has its tender moments, but concerning the shutting down of a second language, one which holds great potential for self-expression, it would have been helpful to her later in life after she had become an assault victim.
Art (in any form) is an important language that needs to blossom in order for our children to reach their maximum human potential.
It is never too soon or too late to hand your child a crayon, white paper and words of encouragement at their creation.
Once the hand of time moves forward, you will never be able to go back and ask your child to re-create the feelings and interpretations of their youth.
So please remember that even if you don't speak "Art" yourself, the words and reactions you choose will encourage or discourage fledgling students in their quest to become bilingual and grow as a person with the help of this deliciously insightful language.
" These statements are so common that people don't realize the damage they do.
As the founder of a very successful Fine Art School who has had the honor of giving thousands of courses to clients of all ages, I can say the damage goes well beyond artistic prowess.
Truth be told, most people will not become professional artists, so there's really no harm done, right? Wrong.
If you are teaching art exploration to your child or to a group of children, especially if you are not an artist yourself, I would like to share a little known secret that only artists really understand, but which is imperative to the healthy growth of our nation's children.
Art, whether it be painting, sculpture, dance, writing or music, is not simply a superfluous form of expression or distraction to occupy time when your child is bored.
As well, it is not just something to help create extra brain synapses to make your children smarter.
Both of these statements hold truth, but miss the greatest and most wondrous little known secret of all.
What's the secret? Art is a language unto itself.
In essence, I am trilingual.
I speak English, French and Art.
I am thankful to have learned the language of Art because when I was young I had a stuttering problem so severe that my main form of profound communication was painting and poetry.
Without it I would have crumbled; with it, I could speak.
The challenge with teaching and learning the language of Art is that it touches the essence of who we are so deeply inside that people are shy to do it poorly.
Have you ever traveled to a foreign country, tried to speak the language, and gave up because you were embarrassed when they giggled? Never will I forget a client at my art school who was in her 40's.
She started crying when I asked her to paint a flower.
A simple flower, not the Mona Lisa.
When we discussed it, the root of the problem became evident.
She had been told in elementary school that her drawing was messy and the other children laughed at her.
Sadly, her self-esteem had not yet developed to the stage where she could brush off the humiliation, so she gave up learning the language of Art.
Many of you might be thinking, "So what? Art is fun, but not necessary and everyone gets ribbed at school.
" True, life has its tender moments, but concerning the shutting down of a second language, one which holds great potential for self-expression, it would have been helpful to her later in life after she had become an assault victim.
Art (in any form) is an important language that needs to blossom in order for our children to reach their maximum human potential.
It is never too soon or too late to hand your child a crayon, white paper and words of encouragement at their creation.
Once the hand of time moves forward, you will never be able to go back and ask your child to re-create the feelings and interpretations of their youth.
So please remember that even if you don't speak "Art" yourself, the words and reactions you choose will encourage or discourage fledgling students in their quest to become bilingual and grow as a person with the help of this deliciously insightful language.
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