Art Appreciation: You Are My Work of Art!

From the Author:

“You Are My Work of Art”, my new book has been in development for many years. The fine art world is difficult for some to appreciate, the notion being pervasive that it is hard to understand, and beyond the average person to grasp. It frightens many away from something that has always brought me a tremendous amount of joy. As my son was growing up, our goal was to introduce him to the world of art and have him feel it was created for him and speaking to him, no matter what avocation he eventually would choose to pursue.

How does one instill a sense of belonging in children and forever cast away the sense of intimidation that has perpetuated in the world of fine art? How does one connect a young child to the iconic images of the art world, and instill an early sense of joy when encountering great art?

We actively toured museums around the world with our son, and engaged him in conversations about the images and how they related to him and his own world.

I wondered how to share the experience with other children that had limited opportunities for such field trips. The sketches developed over the years, eventually finding their way into book form. The poem followed as the images were assembled, designed to introduce any child (and perhaps even their parent) to 8 famous paintings for the very first time. I hope you enjoy it and look forward to hearing your review.

Sue DiCicco

From Deni:

I found this book a week before heading to DC to await the arrival of my third grandchild.  I immediately fell in love with it, so into the suitcase it went.   It captured what I was talking about in an early Fireflies' post - Training your child to appreciate art.] The author had the same desire that I had as a young mom; to introduce my children to art masterpieces.  Not only does DiCicco introduce major works of art in her board book, she emphasizes a theme that is dear to my mom's heart - that our children ARE our works of art.    

Tonight as I was working on posts for Fireflies, I received a text from Julie Hagan - "You have to see this wonderful book I've found."   Yes, it was You are my Work of Art, by Sue DiCicco.  She then linked the book to a song that was very special to both of us as new moms.  If you know it, the mention of it will bring tears to your eyes.  If you are a young parent (ie you were born in the '70's-'80's), then I'm excited to introduce this song to you, Masterpiece by Sandi Patty.   (Thanks for reminding me, Julie!)   I've posted the lyrics to Masterpiece below.  It has been remastered from when we first heard it (in the '80s) and is on her album entitled, "A Mother's Prayer".

Enjoy, as we celebrate the masterpieces created by God's own hands and placed in ours!

Click here to listen to the song.

Before you had a name or opened up your eyes Or anyone could recognize your face. You were being formed so delicate in size Secluded in God's safe and hidden place. With your little tiny hands and little tiny feet And little eyes that shimmer like a pearl He breathed in you a song and to make it all complete He brought the masterpiece into the world. You are a masterpiece A new creation He has formed And you're as soft and fresh as a snowy winter morn. And I'm so glad that God has given you to me Little Lamb of God, you are a masterpiece. And now you're growing up your life's a miracle Everytime I look at you I stand in awe Because I see in you a reflection of me And you'll always be my little lamb from God And as your life goes on each day How I pray that you will see Just how much your life has meant to me. And I'm so proud of you What else is there to say? Just be the masterpiece He created you to be.

The Art of Saying "I'm Sorry"

Teaching Kids the Five Steps to Giving a Sincere Apology

1. Think about what you did wrong.
Get specific. Did you say something that hurt your friend’s feelings? Did you say something behind her back? What exactly are you sorry for?

2. Find the best time and place to apologize.
If you really, really can’t face your friend, you could write a letter to begin the apology process. Find a time when you won’t be interrupted and you can focus on telling the person your concerns.

3. Say what you’re sorry for.
Be brief, sincere, and honest. Say exactly what you did that you’re sorry for “I…..[fill in what you did]…and I’m sorry.” You might want to briefly describe what happened. Your friend may see it differently, so it’s a good idea to share your view of the problem.

4. Tell how you are going to make things better.
So what are you going to do about your actions? Tell your friend!  Just saying “I’m sorry” doesn’t necessarily fix things. Let your friend know what you plan to do t make things better.

5. Give your friendship time to heal.
Remember, you can’t make anybody do anything she doesn’t want to do. And that means you can’t make your friend accept your apology. All you can do it admit you’re wrong and try to make amends.

Practice, practice, practice these five steps at home so your child can use the skill in the real world.

Hint: Showing children a skill is always more powerful than telling them …so model asking for forgiveness.  Admit when you’re wrong and say, “I’m sorry!” to you kids.

Information from Dr. Michele Borba's Reality Check Blog.

Training your Child to Appreciate Art

Each month we will highlight one way to train your child to effectively communicate a message through print, verbal and visual arts activities.  This month, let's begin with the Visual Arts.   I'm a firm believer in children being exposed to great works of art and also creating their own art.    Each month we will focus on works and styles of art by various artists.   We will also share an art activity to experience with your child.  (See Post: Block Print Winter Scene)   We will archive these activities under the label: Visual Comm.

___________________________________

When was the last time you actually chose to visit an art museum, let alone take your child to one?  I must confess that I was not an enthusiastic museum visitor as a young parent.  I did not want my children exposed to some of the art displayed and I simply didn't know how to introduce them to great works of art.

 

What I did do however, was to sign my children up for many different art experiences in our area, (and I have a complete set of coil pots to prove it).  I chose wonderful art teachers who inspired them to replicate great works of art, explore different styles of art, and to create messages through the visual arts.  My parental experiment was a success!  Both of my adult children are fearless when it comes to a creative project (probably to the dismay of their spouses...), and I am convinced they both will do a much better job of walking their little ones through MOMA and the National Portrait Gallery.  I believe with all my heart that my children benefited from the art lessons, and that's why I'm committed to sharing these experiences with you.

Through Fireflies, we can share our love for the process of art exploration.  Each month, Julie Hagan and I will highlight a piece of artwork to share with your children as they grow to appreciate God's creation through the Fine Arts.  For those of you who do not know Julie - she is the artist.  She is a master teacher whose heart for growing children to become all they were created to be, inspires me every time I'm with her.  (You are in for a treat - I promise.)  Through our Visual Comm posts, we hope you will be encouraged to create opportunities for your children to view and create art.   After all, everyone needs their own set of coil pots!

Art Appreciation and the Young Child

Parents can initiate young children’s appreciation of art by letting them

view and make art.

For young children, visiting an art gallery or museum can be a great introduction to art. Here are some suggestions to make your trip a success:

The Sisters of Charity by Charles Burton Barber

•Start small. Choose a theme that relates to your child’s interests, such as ballet or animals, and look at just three or four pieces to see how different artists represent the subject.

• Pay attention to the artwork’s message. Artwork that shows people gathering food or nurturing a child or that highlights daily activities in other ways carries powerful positive messages.

• Listen to your child’s response to artwork. Children may find some work frightening, such as Georgia O’Keefe’s Horse’s Skull with White Rose. Experts say toddlers respond to scenes of daily life and abstract art like that of Picasso or Klee, but show little interest in landscapes.

• Watch for art in progress. Children are fascinated to see art in the making so watch for people who are sketching or painting.

• Learn when to lead and when to follow. A child will let you know when he’s ready to look at a piece of art more deeply.  The goal is to help your child to acquire an appreciation of art...follow their lead when possible.

• Find something for everyone. Having at least two adults with a family group allows you to split up and accommodate everyone’s interests.

• Find creative ways to keep little hands off. Touching an object related to the artwork makes it easier for kids to accept “hands-off” policies. When looking at a sculpture, for example, bring a smooth stone for kids to touch.

---------------------------------------

First Steps

Look at the winter scene above.   Keep in mind your child's developmental level as you begin to discuss artwork.  Practice designing questions that will engage your child in the discussion of art.  


Questions about The Sisters of Charity might range from "How many deer are in this picture?" to "Why do you think the artist titled his art work, The Sisters of Charity?" 


Share your questions as well as your child's unique responses with us in the comment section below.   Discuss, explore and enjoy ART!