Mummy Art School

I tend to sneak in some painting sessions on Fridays or over the weekends, as the Bees are enthusiastic about painting. As I have had a good number of years of formal art training before, I usually attempted teaching them, and it was always good fun. 

However, one fine night as the Bees were painting with me, they suggested that I send them for art classes instead! I was flabbergasted. Is it not better learning from your own mummy? Isn't it more comfortable painting at home? Don't you guys have enough enrichment classes?

Then it dawned on me that the Bees wanted to work on more challenging art pieces - which I can't possibly teach with my amateur skills (look what I had done to Van Gogh with them, haha!). 

So I decided to let them attend a couple of art workshops only during the holidays, and get them to continue painting at home during school term. 

Here were what they produced at one of the art workshops. The art piece of the lavender mountains below was what I encouraged Big Bee to copy-paint at home without any instructions. I could see the vast difference, of course - so I will definitely be sending them for more art workshops during the next holidays! 

Big Bee's painting from art workshop: Sunset with verdant giants

Little Bee's painting from art workshop: Sunset and a little fox

Big Bee's painting done at home, with some guidance from me: Rolling Lavender Mountains

Painting also works wonders for the girls' patience and sense of permanence in life. One windy afternoon, the Bees were working on their paintings, and Little Bee completed her painting of a golden field of sunflowers that we had been working on for a few nights. She was proud of her painting, and so was I. It was bright, bold and sunny - just like her. 

I left the painting in the balcony to dry - and went outside with the girls to collect our mail. In a split second, the skies opened and rain lashed down on earth furiously. By the time we ran back home, much of the living room floor was wet! And I was stupefied to see Little Bee's painting that was drying outside just moments ago wet, crushed and destroyed. Little Bee was devastated. So was I. We remained dazed and Little Bee sobbed for a while. It was rather heartbreaking. 

But I turned around and told her it was alright - that we can always paint again, together. She sobbed and nodded, saying, "Yes, I will try harder again. Never mind, Mummy, it is ok - I will try harder and paint another better one." 

What sweet, brave words from a little, dejected girl. But what a wonderful opportunity to teach a little one the perfect lesson of impermanence too. 

Here are a couple more of their sketches: 

Farmhouse by Little Bee

A Great Big Farm by Big Bee