26th April 25
The Art Lesson
I have seen quite a bit of my two eldest great nieces lately. I have lots of great nieces and nephews but don’t often get to spend much time with them, so seeing them twice in one week was lovely.
The first time they were sitting at the table drawing. I went over to have a look and gave them a few pointers how to draw people in the distance, how to make things look closer or further away on the page, how to sketch faces and add little details.
In return, they gave me their pencils to sharpen!
We started chatting and having such a great time that no one wanted to leave. I promised we would continue the lesson the next day, and when they left, they gave me the biggest hugs. It gives you such a boost knowing you’ve made a child’s day.
The next evening, we picked up where we left off. This time, I got them drawing on my iPad. I showed them the app I use for my own pictures how to create different effects, use different brush types, and work their way around the tools.
We decided that they should create my next post.
They wanted to do self-portraits, so I drew the outlines and showed them how to colour them in, adding depth, light, and texture.
I have to say, they worked their way around the app like pros I really do think we have some future artists in our midst.
Watching them dive into their creativity with such excitement reminded me: children don’t need perfection or grand gestures. They don’t need flawless lessons or complicated plans.
All they truly want is for someone to sit with them, share a moment, encourage them and most of all, believe in them.
Belief gives them something far greater than a lesson it gives them confidence.
And sometimes that small moment of being seen and believed in can quietly change the course of their whole world.
And maybe, in believing in them, we find a part of ourselves again too.
Drawing by Bel aged 8 and Everly aged 6
