Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Sea monster

This is a post about children's art and the art that my nephew Charlie creates.

On a recent blustery Sunday afternoon, my niece Sarah (12) and I walked up the street to my local cafe/wine bar. We were to meet up with her family who had gone cross-country skiing.

Once they arrived, we took a large corner table and spent the next two hours talking, playing tic-tac-toe, knitting, reminiscing, and having hot chocolate with ginger cookies.
Charlie (8), in drawing mode, was a bit in his own world. I love this drawing. I love children's art. I wish to see a museum of children's art in every city.
He couldn't think of a title, so he asked for suggestions. These are the ideas received so far:
-"Santa Claws and his friends" Goldendaze
-"Attack of the Sea Monsters" Dreaming Tree
-"Come in, the water's fine" Anonymous
- "20,000 Crayons Under the Sea." From the Faraway, Nearby

PS: In the interest of highlighting process, here is the uncropped version of my drawing. The perspective and composition are awkward. Drawing that corner there is very difficult! I cropped it (above) hoping that it would hold together better. I'll go back and try it again.

15 comments:

Ed said...

It looks like you used the seem between pages as the corner of the room. Very clever.

What is it that was censored? Are we living in a fascist blogosphere?

Pam said...

Sometimes it's something as simple as cropping that can make all the difference. It's an excellent drawing put into better perspective with a single motion.

I like kids drawings too, I like their flights of fancy.

Thank you for your very kind comment on my last post and for how you see me.

Crayons said...

Actually, Ed, that would have been clever. It's just one page. But I'll use your idea when I go back to try it again.

Censored was a version of my face that only got increasingly grotesque every time I tried to fix it.

Pam, I'm learning about cropping. It's an interesting and useful tool. I'm glad you see the decisions that I made.

Ginnie said...

Charlie is taking after you, Caroline. A possible title for his picture could be "Santa Claws and his friends".

Lana Gramlich said...

I like the uncropped version of your drawing, personally.
As for a title for the picture, unimaginative me suggests "Attack of the Sea Monsters."

Crayons said...

Hah! Fun names. I think he will like "Santa Claws and his Friends." Lana, I took a look again and now I can see why the icky one is more appealing. It is more open, even if the perspective is wrong.

Anonymous said...

Charlie, for a title i am liking "Come in, the water's fine!"
I love your interiors Caroline, and i like the cropped version mucho better. elizabeth

Dr. Monkey Von Monkerstein said...

Talent runs in your family. Noses run in mine.

Anonymous said...

I love children's art too. Charlie, this is a great drawing. So much movement and power. Crayons, there is an engaging child-like quality to your own art and I mean that in the best way.

TR Ryan said...

A girl after my own heart with a glass of wine and a coffee chaser!

For some reason I prefer the cropped version - I like how the vibrant colors draw you in.

Although, in the larger version - we are introduced to the crabby man and I just knew there had to be one in there somewhere. He makes it real.

I am going with the Jules Vernian "Twenty Thousand Crayons Under the Sea"

Lana Gramlich said...

BTW, I can't get "Hafez & Gelato" out of my head now. It sounds like some bad, interracial, 1980's cop show or something. Thanks for the continued chuckles!

Suzy said...

This is a totally pedestrian question: Is Barrique's the location of the old Ovens? God, I HATED working there!

Anonymous said...

I love your uncropped drawing best! Also, great seeing kids creations! They are amazing at what they do and very creative! Thanks for sharing and would love to see more!

Inner-Creative-Voice said...

I agree... a children's museum of art in every city! What a joy:)
Susan

Anonymous said...

How wonderful if there were museums full of children's art in every town. If only....

Charlie's art is brilliant. Talent obviously runs in the family!