CHILDREN IN ART
AN MTERESTEfG MOVEMENT
The recent exhibition of pictures in Manchester done' by children created much comment. This idea has evidently taken root, for another collection, tho efforts of a child artist, has been shown iv London. These pictures are quite spontaneous, since tho child painter has had no training other than some critical hints from a parent and.others "who know."
_ The importance of cultivating the artistic seuso.in the young has never yet been lully recognised by parents, teachers, or guardians, writes Dr. Estelle Cole ma London newspaper. In fact, the small efforts of the child in this direction with paint-bos and brush are I usually something to be tabooed or carried out under very special arrangements, because "it makes such a mess." No one wants the nursery walls splash-? Ed with incongruous jazz patterns. Nevertheless, if this tendency is paramount, and it invariably is in the healthy child, ways and means must be found to allow it free expression. A big tray with painting book, paint box, water, and brushes will meet the need and prevent the damage of walls or floor. Or the child can sit on a chair at a low table where he can carry out his designs and endeavours to his heart's content. i * '
; The desire to daub and mould is in- : nate. The smearing tendency has many times ruined a. child's best frock ov suit. The parent connects this with dirtiness. Tbo child's eagerness to exploretho gardener's paint pot or the housemaid's coal-box is another example of tins tendency. It is a natural and common occurrence. This love of inessiness is usually repressed too early, because it_ appears to the parent to be an anti-social tendency. Through this repression much- harm arises sometimes, because- the child's pleasure-principle is dominant and his social or reality sense is Btil! in th© making. It is true that dirty children are without fascination. Cleanliness is more ae- | ceptable. However, any impulse that is .repressed in one direction must be ali lowed to express itself on another level —a higher social level. This is called a sublimation. And here it is that the objectionable, annoying, smearing interest can be encouraged by painting efforts, no matter how crude they may be; The tendency to be a budding artist lies in every child. Children love "to make things" and i have their handiwork admired. Eueou- | ragement towards application and interest in childish efforts is a sure way to increase any aptitude. ' . j The second important point is that, j unless expression is given to a checked ; tendency, its energy is capable of re- , volving in a vicous circle. The bored i child is an example of energy that has ! not been satisfactorily employed. I ''Doing something" does not always | satisfy a child. But "making eomei thing," such as painting a picture, becomes a creative outlet which all children need in order to be healthy and happy. It gives the child the sense of importance which makes him feel of value in the world.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 81, 2 October 1929, Page 17
Word Count
504CHILDREN IN ART Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 81, 2 October 1929, Page 17
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