It has felt like kismet to develop and open Chrysalis in the blooming, hopeful season of Spring. It has been equally inspiring to create in the sunshine and reuse or transform materials laying around from Spring holidays. Although it can be hard fight the urge to control all things, I always notice that when I make materials available, and give space for developing artists to find their own way with them, they give life to techniques or ideas that I would not have thought of. What could be limiting with too many restrictions instead becomes a free exchange and deeper usage of the gifts and resources we have around us. I put out some leftover eggs (not real ones!), washable tempera paint, a sponge that I grabbed from the garage on the way out, paint brushes, and some squishies from an egg hunt that snuck their way into the bag of eggs. From there came brilliant ideas like painting the sponge to then wipe and create a spectrum of blended colors, using brushes to create speckles, or the layering to form a cool cracking of paint. Some impromptu play with squishies led to the idea to use parts of the chick-a-dees to look like they were hatching from the eggs. Leftover bunny place cards became the sweetest little pets that needed a habitat. Tearing and crunching paper grass and decorative doilies allowed little senses to come alive and act out bunny poems. During a hike, I was inspired to try a tree branch painting activity that I learned about from The Art Bar, along with so many other sweet ideas. It is an in-process project that little creators have stopped in to contribute to with paint and various string. I anticipate that it is one that might continue to change with the seasons! I wish you the hope that spring can bring, and for those who may be having a hard time seeing the light, continue to check back for natural works of art shared by our most precious gifts, our little creators, to give you a moment to pause from the heavy, and smile.
With Gratitude,
Kristin
