Giving Thanks Day 19 ~ Mini Masterpieces

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. Pablo Picasso ♥ Today I am thankful for, and truly grateful for mini masterpieces. I love art, I love to paint, I have favorite artists and certain pieces in my home....but the ones I treasure the most, and value above all others...are the mini masterpieces my children have created. The chubby hand colored self portraits with one head and two arms with a googly eyed face, the hand prints over the years (some made into various animals), the finger paints landscapes of flowers and suns, the detailed drawings of battle scenes (the boys love to make British soldiers), the ink blot paintings that take the shape of beautiful butterflies, rainbows, kid crafted projects of pasta glued onto construction paper, pine cones scattered with glue and glitter...My favorite room in all the house is the boys "art wall", it proudly displays some of their mini masterpieces they have made over the years, placed on tiles or canvas, and framed proudly displayed in a museum like fashion. We love going to Accidental Artist, to paint figurines, tiles, and ornaments. Our newest tradition is to paint an ornament for the Christmas tree each year. Last year, we took my parents and we all painted an ornament, it is something I highly recommend! I hope my boys never lose their sense of wonder....especially their expression and love of the arts. I truly am thankful for these treasure mementos of a time gone by, telling a story in a way pictures and home movies cannot ♥ "Go into the arts. I’m not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possible can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something." by Kurt Vonnegut