Daniel makes stuff, and, in his spare time, writes about things like movies, kid culture, and geek stuff.
On Being an Atelierista

A fantastic recollection from Anna Golden on what it’s like to be an Atelierista – or resident artist/studio teacher – in a Reggio Emilia-inspired American preschool.

I love Anna’s blog dearly; it’s one of the relative few that talks about kids where I feel at home.

Feb 16, 2010 :: Tagged under: , , :: #

The NY Times Picks the Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2009

Some brilliant books in there – if you’re at all a fan of picture book art, you’ll have to check out these suggestions.

I’d have to say “The Odd Egg” is my favorite, followed closely by “A Penguin Story”. “Tales From Outer Suburbia” is new to me, though – I can’t wait to check it out.

Nov 07, 2009 :: Tagged under: , , :: #

Six-Year-Old Watercolour Artist

The Daily Mail:

A street scene from the paintbrush of a child usually involves triangle-topped boxes for houses. And often an unnaturally large dog. But Kieron Williamson’s attempts are so beautifully rendered that artists ten times his age will be filled with envy.

Experts have said that the six-year-old’s atmospheric paintings, which began with harbour scenes and expanded to include rural vistas, animal portraits and landmarks, have perspective, shadow and reflections that demonstrate an ability well beyond his years. He is even preparing for his first exhibition in a gallery near his home in Holt, Norfolk.

Here’s one of his paintings:

Young six-year-old's watercolour painting

Kieron’s mother mused, “We often think about why Kieron has chosen art in this way and I think it’s because we live in a top-floor flat and we have no garden or outside space, so perhaps he’s had to create his own scenery.”

Whatever his motivation, Kieron’s certainly found a wonderful mode of expression for himself. And while not to belittle his impressive efforts, I do wonder how many children beyond Kieron are capable of such work – provided we adults allow and encourage them to do so. The work being done to help support children’s literacy and expression through the arts in the early childhood schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy, for example, is simply stunning – and will undoubtedly impress a person of any age. (The first time I watched the video “To Make a Portrait of a Lion”, for instance – documenting a group of young children’s efforts to fully understand and make a portrait of one of the large marble lions in San Prospero Square in Reggio Emilia – I was simply floored with wonder.)

But what’s important to consider when we see great art coming from children is that it’s not so much a matter of talent, but of expectations. If we hold a powerful image of children in our heads – if we expect them to be strong, competent, thinking, and wise – then they will most often rise to meet those expectations.

Aug 01, 2009 :: Tagged under: , , , :: #