The Mischievous Mommy

A while ago I ran a contest that led to amazing results. I shared one of Eve's drawings with all of you and asked that you collaborate with her and use your imagination to bring forth what you saw in it. It was so beautiful to witness the individuality of each submission and how it represents what makes us all unique. We are all bound to see different images pour forth from our creative minds even though we are staring at the same artwork and in that diversity lies the truth. We all live on the same earth in the same world however we all view life differently, yet no one is wrong and no one is right, we must simply accept each other's differences as a reflection of one of the amazing complexities of humanity.

The painting above wasn't created by Eve but rather my 15-month-old son, Theo. His interest in art is all-consuming as he loves to feel the texture of paint and see the effect of it being thrown onto paper. (and the floors... and walls... pretty much everything really)

I posted Theodore's painting up on Facebook and asked what each of you could see and the response was overwhelming. From poetic answers to straightforward, each was as unique as the one writing it.  It blew my mind at how one simple, abstract like painting could emit so much emotion and feeling from such a wide range of people. A single image bringing together multiple minds and creative forces to discuss what their imagination was telling them.

Maybe I am just a sap but that hits me right in the creative soul.

All of your answers were fantastic and I think it would be absolutely MAGICAL to bring them all to life, which is why I am going to hold another contest just like the first! This time around it will be using Theodore's artwork rather than Eve's.

And before you DARE say, "Well count me out... I'm not an artist," I would very much like to politely say... shut your mouth.

As adults, we are constantly telling children not to say, "I can't," but we cannot expect them to listen when we aren't living what we are preaching. There is great danger in uttering those words (or even thinking them) because it kills potential before it even has a chance, you are slowly training your mind to become a quitter. You are strangling any sense of confidence and desire to grow as a person so be very careful to never say, "I can't."


So please, pick up that pencil, markers, paint or whatever you may like and bring forth the image you see in this painting. If you are feeling too shy to share then so be it, but just TRY. I promise you that you will surprise yourself and if you are up for it, submit it to the contest!!