The Choice Between Food and Anything

Jess chooses food. She likes to eat. But on a recent evening, as the day was getting shorter and shorter and I was trying to sneak my way out of my early morning enthusiastic commitment to help with an art project, Jess tricked me. She chose art over supper. That is how much she loves painting.

Jessica’s answer was no surprise when I asked what color she wanted to start with. Blue, of course, since that is her favorite color. Hannah and I recently bought Jess two new tubes of blue ‘crylic’ (as Jess call them) paint. Also new was using canvas instead of paper, and we are experimenting with paint consistency.

She chose to use a sponge instead of a brush and began with a plan to cover the whole canvas with a blue wash.

The wash ended up becoming a discussion about Disney Parks’ attractions.

Painting Disney Attractions

Watch this video on YouTube.

Focused on Painting — **I love the focus!**

There came a point in the process where I personally felt like the painting was beautiful and perfect just like it was… then she asked for black. I hesitated.

Hannah reminded me to let her do her own thing. Who am I to get in the way of an artist expressing herself? So, I bit my tongue and said ok.

For Jess, the black was important. It was going to represent a different part of her Disney story.

Then she asked for purple, again, representing a different part of the story.

This painting was finished. It is her “Disney Vacation Plan” which includes all of the roller coasters, other attractions she wants to ride, and shows she wants to see.

Supper Time?

No way. Not yet! She needed to do another painting first! This one was going to be about the World Showcase at Epcot. While she painted, Jess talked to Hannah about what Hannah saw and did on her recent trip to Epcot.

Again, Jess got to that point in her painting where I hoped she was done, I loved the blue! When I asked her if she was finished, she promptly said, “No!” So, I kept telling her that she was the artist and it was her choice. Next she wanted brown. I was full of doubt and worried that she would ruin the beautiful blue background.