We just finished the 5-week Children’s Free-Express Painting Class. It is amazing to work with kids. And by work in this context, I mean creating a safe space, a studio time, free of commenting, judgment, performance expectations or instruction.
What do I do then? I assist with the use of paints, brushes and the studio space. I tape new sheets of paper to the wall, reassure when needed, and support the process. Sometimes, it’s just a word, a nod, a smile. I ask questions, when one starts feeling stuck, bored or does not know what to paint. I ask questions about color or brush, and about what feels right; I watch images pop onto the paper when one is caught in the flow of spontaneous creation, and I am right there, when one struggles with the judgments about their painting.
What happens in the beginning is that children (and adults!) will start to paint very carefully, usually images they know well, images they’ve painted before. It takes time to trust that it’s all right to paint whatever comes, whatever shape it takes, and whatever color it needs. Soon, as we connect to our own creative source, our intuition, we start painting whatever needs to be painted, whatever is alive inside of us, and whatever brings joy, instead of trying to please or impress. Sometimes, it’s a flower, sometimes, it’s a black sky, sometimes, it’s a heart or a monster under the bed. Proportions might not be what is called “realistic,” but that’s not important! What’s important is that the painting is alive and so is the child.
When reviewing what we learned in the process at the end of the series, something an 8-year old girl shared was so great. She said, “I learned that you don’t have to paint just pretty things. You can paint things that are not pretty, you can paint scary things, you can paint anything you want!” And she was so alive! YES, that’s one way to experience freedom, thus the connection to oneself. Spontaneity comes only from one place – our intuition.
How do we support this connection to oneself in children? Most important, refrain from judgment (negative or positive) and they will paint what they need to paint, instead of painting for somebody else. It’s so natural for them to want to please the parents and it’s so natural for us to want to praise them. Children are very smart – all it takes, one not so genuine comment and they will shut down. Give them space and plenty of opportunities to draw and paint. Don’t even ask to name things in their creative exporations and why they paint what they paint. Ask about their lives and their experiences, instead. Teach them to trust their own process.