Awe is just a little word - but it captures how I feel about the art made by children.
I'm not much for decorations and bric-a-brac but I do cover the walls of my house with art made by my children (and their friends) over the years. To me, these are more precious than anything I could buy in the shops. There's an incomparable energy to them -- and life is magic when seen through the eyes of children. Here are a few examples from my walls:
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/-DyEz68peYG0/U8L0IG2ej_I/AAAAAAAAT-0/x29nreiqROw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-13+at+22.02.42.png) |
My two sons playing ping pong. The artist is disputed. Both sons claim they drew it. |
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/-zba9Yt7sRUI/U8L0UkKo5yI/AAAAAAAAT-8/Oyl8KXHSutM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-13+at+22.03.34.png) |
Wonderful 3D art by my neighbour, Hugo, when he was four. |
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/-S--dA4lwpMU/U8L0VNKZpII/AAAAAAAAT_A/NlUcKFgIPT8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-13+at+22.03.46.png) |
Batman! |
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/-_dj3XjRmolM/U8L0V62MS7I/AAAAAAAAT_I/P3LQ2B1cmho/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-13+at+22.03.55.png) |
Spiderman! |
Recently, I visited Grafton Primary School near Holloway.
The minute I saw the giant snake winding its way along the length of the ceiling, I knew I was in for a treat. A lovely enthusiastic teacher showed me around (so sorry, I couldn't find the piece of paper where I scribbled down her name). I could tell from the members of staff I met and the children that there was a real passion for art at Grafton. Apparently the school even holds after school art sessions for parents and children.
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/-dwjDXpD5Eq0/U8Fs8NaXLWI/AAAAAAAAT8A/YElK-EhJBsg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-12+at+18.14.02.png) |
Giant snake in Reception |
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/-KSCf_vsfl-Q/U8Fsqul6CsI/AAAAAAAAT74/F09zhza9to0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-12+at+18.12.56.png) |
More of the giant snake. |
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/-xInbMh8o9bg/U8FtWxumF7I/AAAAAAAAT8I/1hlgM-PcyUw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-12+at+18.15.40.png) |
In one classroom, the ceiling was hung with sailing ships. |
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/-EUvhiTUdmVQ/U8FtyWoOL5I/AAAAAAAAT8Q/n7m8FxllKI0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-12+at+18.17.36.png) |
Art by the photocopier |
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/-2lx_H0PMc8Q/U8FuDCvPAbI/AAAAAAAAT8Y/gAZ1tMb50Z0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-12+at+18.18.48.png) |
I would love to have some of this art on my wall! |
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/-LSafvv5a-jg/U8Fur7wkVOI/AAAAAAAAT8o/xDBZpsCiydI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-12+at+18.21.31.png) |
Art is such a feature of the school that one of the teachers
made this to introduce a new lesson |
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/--mPpZRgkbgU/U8FvNgjw3VI/AAAAAAAAT84/RhOzUROBVxs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-12+at+18.23.46.png) |
I think this might have been for RE |
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/-GMcI9K1Xx98/U8FwCSrFZJI/AAAAAAAAT9Q/NVq-0tof7Xc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-12+at+18.27.17.png) |
A map of London |
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/-l0lVtCOru4g/U8FwShTFrLI/AAAAAAAAT9Y/0CD-L2nQX7A/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-12+at+18.28.24.png) |
One room was a rainforest of strange creatures |
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/-d0B-x2Y9Bfk/U8FwgdfVt6I/AAAAAAAAT9g/D8GCbSZ1BwI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-12+at+18.29.22.png) |
Is that a bird combined with a squirrel? |
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/-4bJBpmlxBxw/U8Fwu9r_DCI/AAAAAAAAT9o/mlnntFKY9D8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-12+at+18.30.10.png) |
What about this Reindeer-Giraffe-Bird? |
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/-vhIrGm6aHU0/U8FxORoMzyI/AAAAAAAAT94/Jgne9riL70c/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-12+at+18.32.12.png) |
An Ostrich Zebra and an Eagle Lizard |
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/-tjepncfog_w/U8Fw_2fD_8I/AAAAAAAAT9w/dIT0ZMGJY38/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-12+at+18.31.13.png) |
A Tiger Snake and Giraffe Butterfly! |
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwUrXY2jIGs/U8FxhJySV7I/AAAAAAAAT-A/DlSefEyk3KU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-12+at+18.33.40.png) |
A Cat Fish. |
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/-pCuc9X2yo9Y/U8G3V6RdvwI/AAAAAAAAT-Q/eHeo6z0ivZg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-12+at+23.31.25.png) |
There was even a Green Man in the corner of one corridor. |
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4EFcIouFQw/U8G3oTKX_VI/AAAAAAAAT-Y/CcxMQsOCYms/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-12+at+23.32.33.png) |
I love these framed self portraits. |
It reminded me of FRAMED by Frank Cottrell Boyce, in which during a flood, precious works from the National Gallery are temporarily moved to safety in a grey, grey Welsh town. When the townspeople inveigle the National Gallery to allow them to see the art, it has a magical effect on the whole town.
I felt privileged to have had a peek at the treasure trove on the walls of the school. I walk past Grafton almost everyday. Who knew?
Afternote:
Knowing my love for children's art, my son recently sent me this link to
paintings by the artist Telmo Piper recreating his childhood drawings.
Mind blowing!
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/-r0gaOqDssik/U8FqG4iMyjI/AAAAAAAAT7s/-Eda5tTqUWY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-12+at+17.59.13.png) |
What Telmo's childhood rendition of a snail would look like in real life. See more |
Afternote 2:
And it was really, really nice to meet such happy teachers. Like these guys: