Learning to Draw

This week my daughter has surprised me a in a few ways, firstly when we were in the playground at school she recognised the first letter of her name from the letter cubes on the playground floor. After  speaking to nursery about the recognition of letters we also established she can pick out her name.

Then as we were talking about letters and drawing I asked her to draw a smiley face and she did, she hasn't really shown much interest in drawing up until now so this is a big milestone for us.

You probably can't tell from the picture but this circle has a smile, two tiny eyes and a nose, it is the first time I have seen her draw anything that resembles a face, so I am excited about what we are going to see in the future.

My sons drawings have gone from this, which was his first ever picture of him and his daddy...

To these intricately drawn pictures, full of imagination and a world through a six year old boys eyes, it is a truly wonderful privilege to be the person who sees these pictures and thoughts.

The milestones never really seem to stop and the magic of children and life through their eyes is just wonderful.

The Big Draw - Campaign for Drawing

My son loves to draw, it plays such an important part of his day and allows him to express his thoughts and feelings and most importantly his beautiful imagination.  So when I was sent details of The Big Draw campaign I knew it was something I wanted to help promote.

Faber-Castell, the world’s oldest and biggest pencil manufacturer is about to inspire a new generation of little artists as lead sponsor of The Big Draw. 

The programme of hundreds of events will connect people with museums, outdoors spaces, artists, designers and each other this autumn across the UK and in 20 other countries. The Big Draw runs from 1st October to 2nd November.

Launching with a day of creative fun at the V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green, London on Sunday 28th September, Faber-Castell will provide its famous red-packaged ‘Playing and Learning’ art material range for an action-packed day that will see children contribute to an artist-created birthday party installation as they experiment with colour and play creatively. 

Special guests; author Jacqueline Wilson and illustrator Nick Sharratt will each give a talk to visitors, who can also enjoy drawing activities in the galleries led by Nick and fellow illustrator Marion Deuchars. 

Simon Stone, of Stone Marketing Limited, Faber-Castell’s UK distributor said: ‘We’re delighted that our beautifully designed products for school and pre-school children will be so central to this important series of events. The ethos of the Playing and Learning range fits perfectly with The Big Draw’s aim to unlock children's imaginations and fuel their appetite to learn.’

Looking through the Faber-Castell's range there are so many ways to get children into drawing from these fabulous connector pens to paint to the clic & go paint sets.

I have always been one to say I can't draw, but the fact is I spent many a summer sat at my desk designing outfits and dresses, looking back at them now for a 10 year old they were pretty impressive. 

Drawing is about expression, putting on paper what is in your head, it doesn't have to be perfect.

For more information on The Big Draw and to find your nearest event please visit www.thebigdraw.org

NB I haven't been compensated for this and am simply passing on to my readers as I found the subject interesting.

Our Family As Drawn By My Son

My son drew this picture earlier and then I remembered that the lovely Sonia over at This Mummy Loves has the Draw With Me Linky with a family theme so thought I would get it in quick sharp.

This is my sons take on us, I don't really have one big leg and one small one (at least I don't think I do) but I am on the right, my husband is on the left, my son is middle right and my daughter middle left. Oh and the little brown squiggle at the bottom is our hamster Peppa.

I love how raw and innocent everything is through a just turned 6 year old's eyes :)

My Sons Favourite Toys as Drawn By Him

My son thoroughly enjoyed last months Draw with Me over on This Mummy Loves blog (even more so because he won a fabulous prize from The Toadstool)

So when I told him this months topic was Toys he got out his felt tips and drew his favourite toys, an eclectic mix if I do say so.

Here we have some Lego Star Wars (pretty much his entire Christmas List), a lego car, a T-Rex, a minion and a pterosaur. I'll leave you to decide which one is which ;)

We loved this topic, although any opportunity to draw is seen as great for my son.

Halloween Draw With Me

I saw the Draw With Me Linky Halloween Edition over on the Mummy Loves blog and my son who is 5 loves Halloween and drawing so this was perfect for him.

First he got to drawing a few bats and a witch with a cat on a broom stick along with some rather colourful pumpkins or punkins as he calls them ;)

Next up and I love this, a werewolf shouting awooot.

Overall I am very impressed with his drawing, all his own ideas and the rather wiggly ghost is my favourite.

By M aged 5

This is a really lovely linky which my son thoroughly enjoyed, he has even gone on to draw lots more halloween pictures so thank you for the inpiration Maisie and Sonia :)