art with children

Rock N’ Roll

A little flashback art project this week with the girls. I remember painting rocks when we were younger, and even remember a few handpainted rock doorstops scattered around our house.
Last week the girls and I traipsed down to the stream for some large smooth rocks that would be good for a little painting. Many more rocks came home in our basket, but they were secretly weeded out…

We finally got around to scrubbing the rocks off and painting them early this week.
P1010006_3

It’s funny doing art projects with children. Oftentimes, I go into them with big, glorious plans for how the finished project should look. And what is usually being dreamed up in my mind is something far too complicated and controlled for a carefree two and four-year old. This project reminded me that it’s just fun to create. to paint. to doodle. to have no plan. no required outcome. no step by step instructions. the process–from wading into a cold stream to pick the perfect rocks, to swirling colors of paint in a dish and realizing they just turn grey on the brush, to arranging the rocks in a row on the porch–is far more important than the finished product.
P1010010_1
(love the big, crusty cut on her knee…she’s been maintaing these all summer)

P1010003

And you know what else is important?
P1010006_2_1

Putting on a pair of pink stripey socks, your sister’s too big riding boots, and clicking around the house all morning long.

A little flashback art project this week with the girls. I remember painting rocks when we were younger, and even remember a few handpainted rock doorstops scattered around our house.
Last week the girls and I traipsed down to the stream for some large smooth rocks that would be good for a little painting. Many more rocks came home in our basket, but they were secretly weeded out…

We finally got around to scrubbing the rocks off and painting them early this week.
P1010006_3

It’s funny doing art projects with children. Oftentimes, I go into them with big, glorious plans for how the finished project should look. And what is usually being dreamed up in my mind is something far too complicated and controlled for a carefree two and four-year old. This project reminded me that it’s just fun to create. to paint. to doodle. to have no plan. no required outcome. no step by step instructions. the process–from wading into a cold stream to pick the perfect rocks, to swirling colors of paint in a dish and realizing they just turn grey on the brush, to arranging the rocks in a row on the porch–is far more important than the finished product.
P1010010_1
(love the big, crusty cut on her knee…she’s been maintaing these all summer)

P1010003

And you know what else is important?
P1010006_2_1

Putting on a pair of pink stripey socks, your sister’s too big riding boots, and clicking around the house all morning long.

18 comments on “Rock N’ Roll”

  1. Does she have them on the wrong feet? That is the cutest picture! I love the rocks! My kids painted me a rock for mother’s day probably 10 years ago and it is still in one of my flower beds. So sweet!

  2. oh – i know what you mean about having grand plans for projects with your kids. sometimes you just have to throw your hands up in the air and let them go at it.

    I do like the rock painting idea …for me and for them.

  3. have you ever tried heating the rocks and then coloring them with crayons so they get all waxy? i think i saw that in family fun, but have yet to try it. rocks will get some kind of color-treatment around here next week for sure.

  4. aaaaahhh…the cuteness of thosechubby pudgy little girl legsin boots…sigh…:)

    and great idea for an art project,no rules is the best way:)

  5. we are so going to paint some rocks next week, thank you so much for the idea! collette refuses to wear her own flip flops and now goes all over town in eliots other pair. gotta love that two year old spirit!

  6. love those pudgy legs! rock painting is so fun, I even did this with a group of other friends when there wasn’t a kid in sight. Ian always prefers a one color rock- always gold. We have lots of golden rocks around here.

  7. we used to joke about our mother’s and the way they would say “oh do it how you like, there’s no wrong way…” and then stand over and around fussing about, suggesting easier/better/quicker type do-overs. we hoped we wouldn’t be like that.

    i find myself remembering that story a lot these days 🙂

  8. So why do I now feel like eating sausages? Just kidding – look at those gorgeous chubba little legs 🙂

    Rock painting – now there’s an idea. Never did that as a kid. Painted plenty of other things (like my one and only Barbie – only Barbie because I painted the one I had!!) though.

  9. Those chubby little legs in those too-big boots are adorable!

    Great plan to let things flow with the art. You’re right, the process is the important thing. I need to remind myself of that too. xo.

  10. Ooooh, rock painting! We love it around here too. There are a ton of great rocks here so it’s kind of a natural and I’ve got several as doorstops as we speak. P.S. ModPodge gives them a really nice shiny finish. 🙂

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