I decided to have yet another attempt at tidying my studio. There`s usually a reasoning or prompt behind these bouts of `cleansing` and last week was no exception. This time there was a double incentive.

Firstly, after months recovering from an op I saw my studio in a different light. I watched an artist on a TV programme in her white walled bright and airy space with her paintings stacked neatly in the corner and one carefully chosen piece placed strategically on an easel. Then I crawled up to my attic studio and sighed. Wow!

Secondly in a few weeks’ time I had an adult coming for some art tuition. Where to begin.
I found some old school art plans from 2010, old birthday cards and more. The bin liner was filling up nicely.

THEN I came across a wonderful painting I thought I had lost years ago. You can now see how often I tidy and have a clear out. It was like finding treasure. The painting was done by a boy I taught when I was still working in a school. I remember the art lesson as if it was yesterday, which I may add is a miracle in itself. We were doing paintings on perspective.

Not my idea of a fun art lesson but for once I was following the rules. This particular child, then in year five, struggled with instructions, information and the whole classroom environment. He just wanted to paint. I gave him paper, brushes and paint and off he went. A brush in each hand and a big smile on his face he created the wonderful painting I have now dug out of the depths of my studio and hung in a prime position on my studio wall.

The painting fills me with happiness with its colour, jungle plants and monkeys hanging from branches. This to me is what art should be about. The freedom of expression, unrestricted and joyous. I know children are supposed to be taught art skills, but does it really matter that things get smaller when far away or that there is a horizon with a vanishing point, that eyes are symmetrical or that we are stuck with A4 paper? Famous artists often flout the so called `rules` so why can`t children. I have seen many wild and wonderful pieces of children`s art over the years and been blown away by the explanations the young artists have given.

This goes back to my strong opinion that art, especially in primary schools, should be a stand alone subject and given the status of a key subject.

The paintings I have chosen this time are ones born from children`s imagination and sheer love of creating art.

Noor (12yrs) Dripping Lion:

Eva (6yrs) Into the woods. This is a lot of fairies in the wood.
Nusaybah (7yrs) The Red Forest Nusaybah loves using sponges to create trees.
Noor (12yrs) Dripping Lion: Dripping paint has become Noor`s signature style as she loves the ever-changing effects it creates.
Nathan (5yrs) Remember that Tractor: A collage exploring aeroplanes with a tractor in the sky
Balaji (13yrs) Splash: An experiment with paint using a straw technique

Well done to these wonderful young artists. Let`s hope their exciting ideas, and love of all aspects of art, are not quashed and supressed by what society expects art to be or look like.

All children should be given the opportunity to explore, experiment and enjoy art.

Balaji (13yrs) Splash:

Please submit all artwork to my email; purplegrandma48@gmail.com OR via Curatorspace (Children’s Art Opportunity)