My Little Lovey's Art Project

First things first, I want to be clear that whenever I post any images related to my children (which is rare) I always talk to them first and ask if they are okay with it. I do not post if they say no.

Okay, that being said... my heart swells with love and pride, joy and awe over this story.

My youngest, thirteen years old and just finished Grade Seven, told me early in May that, for an art assignment in school, they were supposed to pick a famous artist and research about him or her and then do a piece of art in the style of that artist or do a reproduction of that artist's work. I was really excited when he told me that and I asked who he chose... Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, O'Keefe, Matisse, Degas? Who?!

His answer...

"I chose you, mom".

Cue the tears.

"Me?" I asked. "Oh! Really? Wow. Thank you Lovey."

Turtle Cloud

12 x 12"

acrylic on canvas

© T. Ault, 2017

NFS

He was supposed to bring supplies to school to create the art project, but we decided to take some time one evening to go to my studio so he could work on his project there. He used a 12x12 canvas propped on my easel, my brushes and acrylics. He chose one of my 6x6 paintings of a sunset as inspiration for his piece - he did not want to copy it, he wanted to create his own work.

It was quite interesting to watch the painting develop. I helped talk him through elements and showed him how to choose colours and mix paint. I listened to his thoughts and gave him advice on how to try to achieve the idea he had in his head as I understood it. It was fascinating to watch him love his painting at certain points and then really hate it at other points. Like mother, like son! He persevered and in the end he felt very proud of what he created.

my son's painting and assignment

(top left) on the bulletin board at school

What I hadn't looked at was the paper he wrote about me. I didn't see it until I stopped by the school to take a photo of the bulletin board in the hallway. At that point I read the front page of his assignment. I am not sure which I love more, his painting or his words (few as they may be)!

Under Artist Biography the question is "How did they live?"

His answer... "She lived well. She wasn't rich but she wasn't poor".

!!!!!!

How much do I love it???!!! I laughed right out loud while standing in the empty school hallway. I also enjoy that he has my date of birth wrong and that he has me expiring this year. It's been nice knowing ya!

All silliness aside, he is actually so very wrong. I am rich, but it has nothing to do with money and everything to do with him and his big brother.

Truly. My cup runneth over.

P.S. I ran into my son's teacher who commented how absolutely sweet he thought it was that my son chose to do his assignment on me. I said I agreed, that it was very special. I also teased that my son gave me the only opportunity I will ever have to be displayed alongside Claude Monet and Salvador Dali!