Why "Gallery" is Now Part of our Everyday Vocabulary

The girls watching Dana at work.

Last weekend, my friend Dana invited us to meet her for lunch in Atlanta while she was in town visiting a gallery where her work is shown.  I was thrilled to take the girls to see some great art, but I didn't realize how much of an impact that quick little visit would have.

Now, it seems that every time Flannery creates a painting, she asks if I can hang it in a gallery, not just on the fridge.  I keep telling her that you have to get invited to hang your work in a gallery, but she just doesn't seem satisfied with that explanation.  I think I may have to break down and call some galleries to see if there are any who host kids' exhibits.  :)

Of course their favorite was the bulldog!  Or should I say bulldawg?

back at home painting some windchimes

What piece of art inspires you most?

Our Little Artist

sketching the princess

For Flanna's 2nd birthday, my friend Dana got us some pretty big canvases and nice paintbrushes for her, and it was such fun to let Flanna paint with such nice materials.  We've continued to use the brushes regularly, but I admit I hadn't given her any big canvases on which to paint since then! 

So, when I saw two canvases on super 75% off sale recently, I just had to buy them.  We painted the blue sky background about a month ago (oy, how time flies!), and just this weekend got around to getting the real art on them.  Flanna drew the sketches out (I helped with the butterflies; she did the princess all on her own) and then told me what colors she needed in her palette.  I can't wait to hang the finished products in her room once they dry!

Nothing like cantaloupe for inspiration.

She said she knows butterflies are symmetrical, but these aren't real.

How have you displayed kid art in your home?

Painting Wooden Birds

I recently went a little overboard during a trip to Michael's.  I'm not usually a huge shopper, but craft supplies are my weakness.  A few weekends ago, I walked into a Michael's looking for pipe cleaners and beads, and I came out with these adorable carved birds that I just fell in love with.                                                      Flanna and I finally got around to painting them, and now they're sitting in my kitchen windowsill--one red, one blue, and one rainbow bird.  They really brighten my day.  Now I just need to seal them so they don't fade and then suspend them from the ceiling on some fishing line so they don't look like clutter, and instead look like they belong in my kitchen window.  

What small item in your home brings you a bit of joy every time you see it?