My Maddie is an artist. I had
no idea. I always knew she had a good eye but I had no clue that she could draw. She took a drawing class the last semester of the year and knocked us out with her talent. It was shock and awe.
Imagine what she could accomplish with more practice. I know that I'm supposed to encourage her to do something mainstream and practical with her life. Be a nurse or a teacher or major in business. Instead I really want to encourage her to go to art school. I'm just so proud of her and amazed at that talent.
I know it's not practical so I'll keep my mouth shut for now and encourage her to at least minor in art and to keep it as a hobby always. But just in case, today I took her to pick out her own art supplies-the phrase like a kid in a candy shop comes to mind. She went straight to her room when we got home and started drawing. I hope she follows her heart wherever that leads her.
My Maddie is an artist. I had no idea. I always knew she had a good eye but I had no clue that she could draw. She took a drawing class the last semester of the year and knocked us out with her talent. It was shock and awe.
Imagine what she could accomplish with more practice. I know that I'm supposed to encourage her to do something mainstream and practical with her life. Be a nurse or a teacher or major in business. Instead I really want to encourage her to go to art school. I'm just so proud of her and amazed at that talent.
I know it's not practical so I'll keep my mouth shut for now and encourage her to at least minor in art and to keep it as a hobby always. But just in case, today I took her to pick out her own art supplies-the phrase like a kid in a candy shop comes to mind. She went straight to her room when we got home and started drawing. I hope she follows her heart wherever that leads her.
It's great to see you supporting your daughter! I love everything art but never was supported or encouraged to pursued anything. You'll have to introduce her to some blogs that have some fun challenges, even I, (as an amateur) are having fun trying. Her drawings are wonderful! She is really good!
ReplyDeleteWow...Jen, she's amazing. My son, Will, took photo in 10th grade and fell passionately in love with it. Now the dilemna is he is off to college and wants to major in something where he can continue with his photography....like film or journalism. I say to do what you love. The "parent" in me says "get a business degree."
ReplyDeleteBut here's what I know for sure. Madie and Will have been given this talent from God and they must cultivate it or they will never be completely happy.
So my answer is...........uh, ???
You bring up quite a good topic for discussion.
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ReplyDeleteShe IS amazing!! and just f.y.i.- I followed my heart in art and design, and it has served me VERY well!- o.k., but I followed my Dad's advise too...and I minored in marketing! :)
ReplyDeleteMany Blessings!
Your daughter is very talented! I was super lucky to have parents that supported and encouraged me to pursue my love of art. I just graduated with a degree in Graphic Design three years ago and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't feel thankful to have such a fun and creative career. I wake up excited to go to work everyday! Art may seem an impractical career choice to some-but in the end it's all about having a passion for what you do (and being able to support yourself of course). :)
ReplyDeleteyou are such a wise mommy!
ReplyDeleteshe is truly talented though jen & it will be fun to keep up with where her future leads!
mwah
Jen
ReplyDeleteMy son has just completed his second year at an art college in Manhattan...he really started emerging as an artist during HS and I was worried when he said he wanted to go into this field...you know what? He is so talented, at such a great school...there is a need for art in the world! If her dreams let her go that way, send her! You won't regret it!
Wow she is good, there are plenty of real jobs for artists , my husband is one , he works in animation they are always looking for skilled artists , pays really well too , her sketches remind me of my husbands from back in the day all his pencil drawings, amazing skill .
ReplyDeleteYour daughter shows so much talent! You know, I just read tht one of the up and coming high demand careers is design! I grew up on a farm and art was never even considered a real career. I pursued other things and now, at age 51 I am finally following my heart and creating things and considering what I can do with my first love. I hope your daughter can make her talent work for her. I wish I had the encouragement when I was young!
ReplyDeleteCould Maddie use an apprentice? Because I have a four-year old who might be interested in applying.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it the most exciting thing to watch our kids grow and become exactly the people they were meant to be? Your girl's got some talent, fo sho.
Wow, that's amazing. I'm not bad at drawing but always struggled with drawing people. I admire your daughter's talent.
ReplyDeleteWow! She is so talented. Sometimes we lose when we play it safe. Encourage her to do what she loves.
ReplyDeleteseriously, she is fantastic. I am a fan of the tastic!!! I have an art background and I can't draw worth a doodle. I always figure that if you can get eyes, you are a natural.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter wants to be in fashion design in a major way, so our plan is, should she still want to be in that line of work in 2 years, we will find a designer for her to apprentice with and she will offer them to work for free, while we pay her rent and expenses, rather than a degree, she gets hands on experience. Will let you know how that works out. :-)
Love the "rawr" drawing!
ReplyDeleteThe arts run deep in this family too: singing, doodling, fashion design, interior decorating, "real" art, comic book characters, acting, spontaneously bursting into show tunes.
As for me, I noodle around with watercolors, dabble in photography, and will knock your socks off when it comes to textiles: spinning, weaving, knitting, quilting, tatting. [Anything that doesn't require drawing the human face.]
She is so talented Jen! I would encourage her to do what she loves...the rest will fall into place. ( but maybe a minor in business just in case?...I guess I am a little bit of a chicken...)
ReplyDeleteannie:)
Oh my goodness, you do have an artist on your hands! Way to go Maddie! Your work is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAllyson
That's awesome!! Keep encouraging her. She's a good artist. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteI think following your heart and your passion always serves a person well. She may not make lots and lots of money, but then again maybe she will. Artists do support themselves all the time. Keep encouraging!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is in amazing! I say encourage her to go to art school - they will help her figure out how to direct her talent into a career. I wish I had done art school instead of traditional college. So many of the really successful fabric designers or cute product designers went to art school. It is an "in" in the design world - which is much more huge than I ever knew - that you can't always find with a traditional and "useful" degree! You are a great mom and you have done amazing with your girls!! Thanks for sharing : )
ReplyDeleteHer work is awesome!! Tell her to always sketch and NEVER get too busy to do it- keep the passion alive :o)
ReplyDeleteEncourage her to go to art school!
ReplyDeleteI am married to a musician and he has always been able to make money doing what he loves. I got to be a stay a home mom when the kids were little, and he never stopped doing music! He started teaching when our first was born. I think he's pretty lucky, getting to play for a living!
Your daughter is very talented. You're wise to encourage her cuz if she can do what she's good at and loves, what could be better?
~Marilee
Maddie certainly is an artist! I hope you are framing that fabulous sketch of the little girl - the detail is amazing!
ReplyDeletewow! your daughter's drawings are amazing.
ReplyDeletei tend to think there are more opportunities for artists now than there used to be, don't you think?
my 6 year-old son constantly amazes me with the details in his drawings and the imagination in his buildings. of course he will get a full scholarship to RISD and live nearby. no pressure. LOL
as a former once-art major (then minor; then english major) i was always happy i knew how to type!
xo
That is so exciting...I hope she follows her heart too.
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful girl with a big talent...I wouldn't discourage her from pursuing it professionally, at all! There are LOTS of ways to use her talent that are financially and otherwise rewarding. Graphic arts, design illustration/rendering, portraiture, etc. There is a great book that I'll track down so I can share the name with you. It discusses the advantage of tying together a child's spiritual gifts, natural talents, and sustained interests from an early age in order to encourage them into a happy upper education and work life. *unsolicited advice, but this topic is big around here lately...sorry :)
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing! It must have been a complete shock if you had never seen that in her before! She is really good! Encourage her!
ReplyDeleteShe is an amazing artist! I would encourage her to continue and pursue art.
ReplyDeleteShe has wonderful talent! She must take after her mother!
ReplyDeleteI am a teacher (of 14 years) and getting laid off. Not so practical anymore. She is gifted, it will all work out!
ReplyDelete♥ Jen
Holy cow! What a gift! If I could go back and be really young again. I would definitely go to art school. It would make everything I want to do now so much simpler.
ReplyDeleteYour daughters talent is amazing. I would love to be able to draw with half her talent.
ReplyDeleteShe's so talented. I can't believe she's a beginner! You can see there's something special there!
ReplyDeleteHow did she keep such an incredible gift such a secret? You're right not to push, but encourage instead. You have every right to be proud.
ReplyDeleteJen
ReplyDeleteSo nice to find your site today, I live in South Bend, IN. I'm up North near MI and near the university of Notre Dame. Happy to find a fellow Hoosier, will visit again! Daughter art is outstanding! Love her eyes shes drawn! Lori
She's very talented, Jen. Keep encouraging her in both areas. She can do lots of artsy things to earn money, but when she's away from that she can do what she loves. If it's not fun for her she won't continue. It has to stay fun and interesting! My parents encouraged me but they knew nothing about it. Check out all the art schools, and while she's still at home, check out your local private art teachers. If you don't like one, try another until she finds her niche. Provide her with all the materials she needs to be creative - I can see that you're already doing that - GREAT!
ReplyDeleteShe's very fortunate that she found out very young what she enjoys. Some people go all their lives and don't have a passion, or at least a hobby. For me, it is a passion. I have to create. I think she will, too. Just look at her...
Wow, your daughter really is good. She will only get better too. How I miss those days of drawing in my own room when I a young girl with my skech pad and pencil and sketched away to my hearts content.
ReplyDeleteI hope that she does try to do more with her talent then I ever did.:)
Have a great weekend.
~Salina
I wish my mom had encouraged me to follow my dreams...when I was little I knew I wanted to be an artist when I grew up. My mom advised otherwise...gave me "practical" advice. But I think that following your heart IS practical...doing what you love is practical...being an artist and LIVING as an artist if you truly are one...IS practical. I wish I'd been encouraged...it's nice that you are encouraging her. My son says he wants to major in music in college. The practical boring adult in me wants to tell him, "get a real major". But the artist side of me...the mother who wants her son to live his dream and follow HIS heart said, "Really?! Wow! How cool would THAT be?!" I mean...you never know..he just might do it! And I hope he does. As for me...I still struggle with what to do when I grow up...and the artist in me is forever screaming to be unleashed!
ReplyDeletethat's awesome on so many levels. I remind myself of all the little things I want to do and be as a parent, and one is to continue to cultivate a home of creativity, and to encourage any and all creative instincts Ellis may have. Is that two things? :)
ReplyDeleteArt school. She as a God-given talent.....and she needs to be able to pursue it. This is a test of your faith, I think. God is more than capable of providing her a good living with the talent He gave her....
ReplyDelete