As I glance at a colorful drawing affixed to my daughter’s bedroom door, I can’t help but admire the vibrant world she’s created with fruit-scented markers. At just 6 years old, Mia’s artistry is captivating. A rainbow arcs dramatically, transforming into a wave, while a stout tree with bulbous leaves reminiscent of tropical fruits stands precariously in its curvy stance. This tree appears to be either attempting to embrace the rainbow like a dancer with a flamboyant scarf or is on the verge of collapsing under its own weight.
The rainbow, in this case, has a tangible presence, almost as if it were molded from clay. Interestingly, orange dominates the palette, overshadowing the other colors—purple, blue, green, yellow, and red. (Let’s skip the discussion on indigo and violet; it only frustrates Mia, who has strong feelings about color nuances.) The orange band, while tapered at the edges, bulges dramatically in the middle, with lines that burst upwards like rays of sunshine. It seems that orange is demanding attention, ready to escape the confines of the rainbow, exclaiming, “Let me free!” and “Where’s that pot of gold?!”
This phase of creativity marks what I like to call Mia’s post-impressionist period. Artists often go through various stages, and Mia is no exception. As a toddler, she explored abstract expressionism, favoring minimalism. With the development of her dexterity, she transitioned to drawing stick figures. Yet, what makes her early works distinctly hers are the recurring motifs: predominantly girls with oversized heads, exaggerated eyelashes, and hair that resembles whimsical, balloon-like shapes, often adorned with bows.
Mia’s subjects eventually expanded to include animals, particularly mice. I could easily fill a coffee table book with her endless illustrations of stick mice—round bodies, arms raised in surrender, and simple mouths that convey a sense of melancholy (the girl mice appear slightly cheerier thanks to their long lashes and delightful bows). Her older brother, Ethan, has become quite the art critic.
“Mia!” he exclaims, “Boys can have lashes too, you know!”
Mia, however, remains unfazed. Her artistic repertoire has grown to include two friends holding hands, expressive heart families, and mermaids with oversized hands. She even had a brief yet intense bunny phase—but not the typical cute rabbits. Mia’s bunnies are quirky, sporting bulging eyes, squared-off foreheads, and arms that resemble those of a scarecrow. I suspect her dislike of carrots might have influenced these unique creations.
Like all artists, Mia is influenced by her surroundings—first grade has introduced her to the world of words. Now, she experiments with what I dub “word-art.” She begins by filling a page with sketches, then meticulously labels each element: cloud, bird, tree, bush, road, Eiffel Tower. Following her drawings is akin to navigating a whimsical map drawn by Roald Dahl.
I watch her at the kitchen table, her blonde hair cascading as she concentrates, selecting each fragrant color from a repurposed artichoke dip container. She approaches her art with the same unfiltered joy she possesses in life—unencumbered by constraints or societal expectations.
It’s inevitable that a time will come when Mia stops wearing her skort as a tank-top or ignores the brotherly advice that blue eyeshadow on her lips is unusual. She may eventually conform to “normal” bunnies and reconsider her layered fashion choices. The day will come when she acknowledges that indigo and violet do indeed belong in the rainbow. In that moment, the survival of her artistic spirit may hinge on her ability to reconnect with her inner creativity.
Mia’s artwork includes two fluffy clouds above her rainbow-wave, initially left untouched—a perfect contrast of color and absence of color. But after a week, she decided to add smiley faces (with lashes, of course, because these clouds are girls). This illustrates her innate artistic drive; like a true creative, she doesn’t always know when to stop. Bright blue pen strokes swirl around her cheerful clouds, filling every bit of white space and leaving little to the imagination while still evoking wonder.
This journey in creativity echoes the idea that art, much like parenting, is a beautiful adventure. For more insights on home insemination and parenting, check out this excellent resource on fertility. If you’re interested in exploring options for home insemination, you can learn more about the process here.
Summary:
In this reflection, I celebrate my 6-year-old daughter Mia’s vibrant post-impressionist artwork, highlighting her unique style and evolving creativity from stick figures to imaginative scenes. Her art is a canvas of bold colors and whimsical characters, reflecting the uninhibited joy of childhood. As she grows, I marvel at the changes in her artistic expression and the influence of her surroundings, all while cherishing the unfiltered vision she brings to her creations.