Mixed Media, Preschool Style

The other day my five-year-old Katy told me that she wanted to make a book about a rainbow elephant.  I left her at the craft table to lay down briefly, thinking that I was coming down with a cold (happily, nothing materialized).  After a bit, she came in to rouse me in order to show me her mixed media creation--the cover for her book:

Katy created a border with paper tape from Target's kids' craft section, with one small area of a scrapbook border I had given her to create with.  Then she used a mix of pen and marker to create her colorful patchwork elephant. 

I'm sure that most mothers think their children are the most clever and creative creatures on earth.  And many kind souls tolerantly listen as these mothers gush about their angels' latest flashes of brilliance.  I hope you will tolerate this bit of gushing, because I happen to think Katy has great artistic creativity for her age.  She dreams up these projects, determines what materials she wants to use to create her vision, and carries them through until she's satisfied with how they look.

I may be reticent to use the word "artist" to describe myself, but I have no doubt at all that my daughter is an artist!  And, happily, she freely uses the word to describe herself.  I hope she never loses that self-confidence in her talents.