Have you ever sat down with your kids with the intention of drawing only for them to become caught up in creating an ideal this or that? Have they become stuck by their attempts to achieve perfection in their paintings, becoming increasingly frustrated that the ‘eye’ or ‘tree’ or some other thing doesn’t appear on the page like it does in their head?
“Every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when you grow up” – Pablo Picasso
Before they started school both my children would draw and paint freely. The often described the most fanciful stories that they had captured in their works that only they could see (sometimes if I squinted enough I could see it too). As they have reached school age and their art sessions became scheduled I found they became worried about what they produced. I’m hoping to break them out of the confines of expectations so they paint and draw freely.
“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try” – Dr. Seuss
On deciding that I needed to help them to take risks with their artworks, to think outside the box and break through their learned need to achieve perfection I received Anti Journal – Create Outrageously by David Sinden and Kikalas Catlow in the mail. It is the perfect tool to start the kids experimenting again.
The Anti Journal is no ordinary journal. It celebrates experimenting and letting your imagination run free. Why use a paintbrush when you can use a feather? Why use paint when you can try strong tea? With this you can journal outside the box. I just love the idea.
Some of my favourite pages include “A ketchup-related catastrophe”, “Create an abstract in chewing gum” and “Spread anything spreadable”. How fun does this sound? I can see so many fun activities in our near future.
“Creativity is contagious, pass it on” – Albert Einstein
Anti Journal – Create Outrageously is available at your local bookshop and retails for $19.99.
**Whilst I was gifted the Anti Journal, all thoughts are and always will be my own. This book is one to consider!