And today's featured artist...

...is Chickie. Just one name, like Cher. Aliases include Silly Billy and Goober Girl.

Pieces #1 and #2:
Titles: Seagull 1 and Seagull 2
Medium: Crayola Washable Paint on construction paper
Notes: At various times in the creation of these projects, the artist described the subject as a trampoline, a girl, and a banana. The benefit of abstract art is that the artist can continually change the subject, and no one is the wiser. In the end, she declared both pictures to be seagulls.

The Artist at Work:







The Finished Projects:

Seagull 1:



Seagull 2:



The Cleanup:



I am happy to report that these paints are easily washed off of skin and hair.

And tables.

And chairs, floors, and doors.

And hopefully fairly new comforters.... We'll see.

Piece #3:
Title: Alternative Uses for Fluoride
Medium: Colgate gel toothpaste on glass shower door
Notes: This artist has yet to learn an important lesson. No matter how artistic it is, tagging is indeed illegal graffiti. The judge required the artist to assist in cleaning up. While the artist preferred using her tongue, the judge insisted she use a washrag instead.

The Cleanup (and, yes, the destruction of this piece of rebel art):



Piece #4:
Title: Bob's Teeth
Medium: Ballpoint pen on magazine
Notes: If your children go to the same school as the artist in the future, you may wish to suggest they not allow her to sign their yearbooks.



And I never thought Trainer Bob's teeth needed braces.

Door-to-door art

Remember a few months ago when I blogged about buying a couple of paintings from a door-to-door salesman?

Well, the paintings are both oil on canvas and were sold to us as unstretched canvases (with no frame). Never have I been more glad that The Engineer worked in a framing shop when he was a teenager. He bought stretcher bars online and did a fantastic job stretching the canvases himself. So it's time for the great unveiling of our door-to-door art....

This one is the smaller one; it's 20" x 24". We haven't hung it on the wall yet. This was The Engineer's pick; I really like, it, but it doesn't particularly "speak to me".


The second one is big (35" x 47") and definitely my favorite. It's hanging high above the stairs (hence the distorted perspective of the picture). The leaves on the top half are real, and other textured elements, such as string and corrugated cardboard, are also utilized. The warm colors and botanical aspect just, well, make me feel good.



They both go really well in our house, and as odd as it was to buy paintings from a traveling art student, I'm pretty glad he showed up at our house that day. These original paintings cost us a whole lot less than if they'd been non-original, signed & numbered prints from a well-known artist.

They're paintings that we like to look at--and that, not the name of the artist, is the most important quality a piece of art can have.

I need to tell you something about your kid.

They can't be whatever they want to be.

I know this goes against popular children's books, well-loved teachers, and "The More You Know" spots on NBC.

But despite my tongue-in-cheek statement otherwise, I am a firm believer in the limitations of kids (and adults, for that matter.)

I will never be a WNBA player or a runway model. I could play basketball for 14 hours a day, followed by fiercely strutting my stuff as I watched America's Next Top Model, and it wouldn't happen. Simple reason? I'm 5'2".

And I'm glad I was encouraged to build on my true skills and talents instead of following pipe dreams. By focusing on what I was actually equipped to do, I accomplished some pretty cool things as a kid. Primarily in the field of academics, which doesn't require height or coordination.

Those terrible singers on American Idol who are genuinely convinced they have talent? Many of their parents told them they could do anything. What a hard fall it is for them when they realize it's not true.

And this one goes against our academically-focused mindset in America, but here goes....

That kid in college who flunks out not because he didn't try but because his brain genuinely doesn't fit into the test-taking model? That guy might have succeeded if he'd followed his dream of working on cars instead of listening to his parents and going to college. He might be a homeowner, a mechanic living comfortably and working happily, instead of slaving away at McDonald's convinced that because he failed his tests, he can't succeed in life.

So let's encourage our kids to try new things, to experiment, and to set goals. Let's remind them that not being good at a subject doesn't mean they shouldn't give it their best shot. But above all, let's teach them to find the things they are both passionate about and naturally good at, and cheer them on as they become better at being...themselves.

Please, somebody give me a good lashing if you ever hear me tell my children they can do anything they want to do.

A tongue-lashing, that is. My petite, 5'2" frame couldn't handle a lashing of any other kind.