The Reluctant Art Project

Every 5 or 6 weeks there is a different theme at Hopper's Montessori preschool. Since the beginning of the year it's been art. So they've been talking about different artists and playing with varying sorts of arts supplies. 

Since Nik is an artist they asked if he would have time to come in and talk to the kids. Of course he was happy to oblige and brought his recent article in an interiors magazine (Eigen Huis & Interieur) and some of his inks and brushes. Hopper was noticeably excited beforehand (which we suspect was more the idea that daddy was going to stay at school with him) but was a bit of a stinker during the whole thing when he got a little possessive and wanted to do the painting himself. But all in all, it was great fun. The kids got to try their hand at sumi ink, and some of Nik's little animal paintings have decorated the classroom ever since.

The icing on the ole cake was that the Montessori peeps got together with the school and planned a little exhibition at the neighborhood's community center. Kids ages 3-6 made work and there was an opening this past Friday. Of course Hopper was only interested in the plates of snacks. I could barely get a photo of him with his painting, which we tricked him into by saying we were all going to get drinks then Oh hey here's your painting. <snap> Dude wouldn't even look at the camera.

(The behind the scenes story is that Hopper, one stubborn little nugget, had been refusing for weeks to make a painting. FInally one of the teachers made a deal with him that he had to do it after the weekend or he wouldn't have anything to hang for the exhibition. He finally acquiesced, because he's into the "deals", and voila his one painting made it onto the wall.)

Hopper's at center- greens, red, black squiggles

proud mama, indifferent nugget, yummy kaas stengel