Lori, as always, this is exactly what we needed. So we're taking cameras outside today and bringing things in to draw tonight. I feel so blessed that you are willing to share your knowledge, wisdom, ideas, and creativity with all of us. Really. It makes me feel smarter just knowing people like you! :)

This is such a beautiful drawing!!! I need to dig my pencils out and find a sketchpad because this gets my creative juices flowing. :^D

My little one (almost 5) has collected dried grasses and sticks and nicely arranged them in a vase. However, I cannot entice him to draw ANYTHING. He is VERY meticulous. He loves provocations that are focused on the process and not the product, but as far as observational drawings go--nada. Because he can't draw with photo-quality perfection, he won't do it at all. What can I do to try to get him over this hump?...or should I just keep casually encouraging while waiting for that magical day when he decides its okay not to be perfect?

Lori, starting this blog was a terrific idea! And you've done so much with it in such a short amount of time!

Your son did a fine job with his winter grass drawing - the care he took with it is plain to see. :)

Wonderful! We brought the snow in today! Filled the sink full.... snow play in the comfort of the kitchen!

Beautiful!!
We are doing nature drawings today also--the kids sketched some of their fossils because it is just too dang cold outside (30 below. again. *sigh*). I'll probably put pics on the blog tomorrow.

I am going to try this even though Owen is such a perfectionist he usually won't
try drawing when something has been suggested, or arranged for him. Does it help encourage a child if the parent participates as well or is that pressure to compare??

"Does he free draw?"

...very rarely. When he does, its usually something like a map of an imaginary place or an invented animal/creature, or once he even drew "jellyfish cells" that he was observing through a pretend microscope--not something that has a preconceived "right" look to it. (Fyi, he was a late walker, late talker,...I'm really seeing a pattern here.) He doesn't even write his name unless pressed, because he thinks he "can't"--even though he actually can--it just doesn't look book-print perfect, of course. When he was in preschool (I've since pulled him out), his teacher was concerned because he took so long to color things--and rarely finished in the given time. However, where as many of the other kids would finish, their entire picture might be all scribbled in one or two colors (as appropriate for the age), where as Gerrick's would be colored SUPER neatly with details like fire colored by mixing yellow, orange, and red crayons.

I guess my question is, do you have any suggestions that could help him get over this perfectionism when it comes to pen & paper--or should I even try? Oh, he makes all kinds of amazing 3-D creations with boxes/cardboard/strings/wikki stix. He just wants his 2-D art to be realistic. I've never been a fan of coloring books, and the only exposure he had to coloring pages before the age of 3 1/2, when he went to preschool, was at Bible school. A few weeks ago I showed him some of Picasso's work online to try to prove to him that all art doesn't have to look like a photograph. He seemed impressed by this and he did paint some flowers for his grandmother's birthday, but he hasn't done anything else since. Maybe I could make a Picasso or Matisse poster showcasing lots of his work and hang it near Gerrick's art table? I've never done any artist studies, but we've always talked a lot about the illustrations in picture books. He has the Do You Doodle? book, which he'll free draw in sometimes and seems to enjoy on the rare ocasion that he's in the mood. He has a couple of Ed Emberley's books and was really excited about them at first, but he refuses to try to draw anything from them without me holding his hand (though I've held it so loosely that I really wasn't even guiding him much at all).

Sherry- I agree with Lori about not pushing him- the last thing I would want is for him to feel like drawing is a chore.

My main suggestion would be for YOU to start drawing. Have the beautiful grasses or whatever- (i might even choose something with less detail) and draw it- without even suggesting to him that he join. Let him watch you- without any pressure. He will see you model- observing, drawing lightly, messing up... and not quitting because of it. This is a way for him to learn- this is often the place of older siblings- but you can do it too. Hopefully, you'll spark an interest. I have drawn along side my students for years- and sometimes someone will say, "but mine doesn't look like yours"- My answer to that is generally- "I'm quite a bit older and have had more time to practice than you have... " or something to that effect. Also- you can ask him if he sees any details that you missed- let him give you suggestions. I hope this helps!!

Hmmm...more modeling is probably exactly what he needs. :)
I especially love the idea of asking him if I left out any details. He is very detail-oriented and would likely really get into "correcting" me. I really need to start my own nature journal. THANKS!

Again, inspirational drawing. Nice work, my friend, for thinking to have your son do it.

We have tried out collecting dried seedheads, then we put them in a small vase and place them on a large sheet of white paper. Using evening lighting, placed directly above the vase we draw the shadows of the seedheads on the paper. It's a bit like tracing and it gives interesting results.