Thursday, February 7, 2013

Meaning Making with Mom

It can be great fun to make art and find new ways of doing it.  That experience of discovery and creativity is often enhanced when the opportunity is available to create with loved ones.


Children's first and most important teachers are their parents.  This mother and son duo in the open studio setting work more as artistic partners, however.  There is less emphasis on teaching right and wrong, and more importance placed on exploring and having fun together.


When a child is taking risks and trying new things on his own, it helps to have a trusted individual nearby to reinforce his efforts and make him feel comfortable during possible moments of hesitancy.  Modeling how to use a specific tool or blend paints is also an enjoyable way for a parent to gain knowledge and then share it with a child.


Building a bond through creative activity, while also developing skills together, allows this mother and son to engage in numerous meaningful moments.  They are also learning to communicate in non-verbal ways, which enhances the ability to remain expressive and lay down pathways for future positive interactions. 


The piece that the two artists created together has both elements of individuality and mutuality.  These visual details show the overlapping boundaries in a parent/child relationship, where mother works on her side and son works on his side, and then where they come together to blend their two techniques more cohesively.


Exploring the rest of the studio space is a further element in strengthening this parent/child relationship. The more tactile experience of seeing, hearing and touching things is reflected by inner experiences of feeling, thinking and communicating.  This physical/sensory development directly produces emotional/social development, which is key for growth as an individual in the world.


Having fun together and creating together go hand in hand for this mother and son duo.  Their smiling faces show how much they enjoy sharing their time with each other and exploring things in this way.

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