Watercolor painting

Last week I decided to finally buy some watercolors for Adelaide. We have been using oil pastel crayons so far, but I wanted to try something new and perhaps a bit more advanced, so we gave it a go.

I set up a whole tray with everything you need for watercolor painting - paper, brushes, colors, cup for the water and we even have a mixing tray. The plan is, that she will be able to take it all herself (from her art station, which is still only in my head) and bring it to her table to paint. This brought to our attention the fact that her cube table has gotten kinda too small.. She was able to draw there with crayons (we don't really use the table for eating much, she eats mostly at the big table), but as there are more things you need to place on the table.. She needed a bigger one. Luckily, we found an old coffee table, that was the perfect height. And the cube table and chair are great, as they both can turn into chairs. (Not sure yet, what will we do, when Jasmiina grows bigger and needs a table too, but I guess we'll see then.)

The setup worked great also at Jasmiina's christening afterparty :)

Also I decided that she needs an apron - had wanted to sew one for her already for a while now. This particular apron would be meant only for art projects (I should make another for cooking). The aprons are used quite often in Montessori settings, as they have a bigger function than just keeping clothes a bit cleaner (I realized afterwards, that it helps only a bit with this, sleeves still are the main part that gets dirty) - putting an apron on before a certain work and taking it off, when the work is finished, is one of the ways that help the child concentrate on the certain task and get less distracted - when you have put the apron on, you paint, you don't run away and start suddenly doing something else, at first have to clean up, take the apron off.. and only then off to the next thing. I think this is a great way and I'm hoping to stick to this (all it takes is reminding and modelling at first, and soon enough it becomes a habit.. of course, the hard part is for myself to remember and create these habits). It is similar as working on a mat in Montessori spaces, and we are already introducing this too, next post will be about that.

The first time painting was interesting. So unique to observe - that the concepts that seem so simple to us, are so new for her. Like, that at first you must take the brush, which side of the brush we use, at first we must dip it into water, not drink the water, only then in the paint and then onto paper.. The sequence must be learnt. So the first time was more of learning this and less of painting, but it wasn't all that bad. :)

And today I was in a suitable mood (naturally, it requires a constant observation and help from my side still, unless if we want our house a bit more colorful..) to give this another go, and this time she was painting very nicely. :) She had enough patience for a whole one painting, and started another one.. But then it turned into something else and we went to wash our hands. And then cleaned up together. These both are hers (the top one is mine :D).

Sometimes I realize that I'm expecting a bit much from her.. At her nearly only 21 months. To get her work, work independently and correctly, clean it up afterwards.. But she is almost able to do that all, and that's how these Montessori children are. It's kinda like - they are as independent as you expect them to be.