Baby's First Finger Painting Experience: Tips from an Artist Grandmother
You may remember the jungle-themed heirloom handmade baby quilt I created to welcome my grandson into the world. This is the grandson!
First explorations in color!
getting ready
One year ago today, he had his first encounter with paint. Earlier that morning, I'd picked up a child's desk at the thrift store - the kind of practical find that doesn't make you wince when it gets christened with tiny handprints.
Simple supplies ready for a first art adventure. Always use washable paint!
On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!
With a plastic grocery bag fashioned into a makeshift apron and canvas taped securely to his tray, we dove into the world of color. Well, I say "dove" - but really, he approached it with such sweet caution. Those little eyes kept checking my face, seeking reassurance that yes, making this mess was absolutely allowed. Even encouraged!
Making sure it's really okay to make a mess.
He selected his colors with the bold confidence only babies possess, mixing them together until everything transformed into a rich, earthy brown. (His mother may have quietly hoped for something in blush and sage to match her bedroom decor - but true artists follow their own vision, don't they?)
Sharing Our Experience
These tips come from real experience - that plastic grocery bag apron was a perfect solution for spontaneous creativity. The thrifted desk has become a cherished piece, each paint splatter marking a moment of discovery. Creating art with little ones is about presence and joy, and sometimes the simplest preparations lead to the most magical moments.
Beyond the Canvas
Most importantly? Don't take it too seriously. It's not about creating a masterpiece for the refrigerator gallery - it's about having fun and spending precious time with your little one. Looking at these year-old photos, I see more than just a baby's first painting session. I see the beginning of creative exploration, the first step in a lifetime of making his mark on the world. And that's worth all the brown-tinted masterpieces in the world.
After our painting session and cleanup, we moved on to music - because why stop at one art form? Armed with a wooden spoon and my kitchen pots, he discovered the joy of percussion. Every artist needs a well-rounded education, after all.
From visual art to percussion - exploring creativity!
xo,
Merrill