Olivia the Artist
Kids love to draw. Most of our kids’ first art shows started on the walls of our homes. This could be scribbles down the hallway, doodles by their beds, or even large murals above Mom and Dad’s bed (yes, it’s still there!). Some parents grab a sponge and wipe the markings away immediately, while others look at it and think, “I’m leaving that there – this kid is going places!”
My daughter started drawing the moment she could hold a pen and make intentional markings, first on slips of paper she found around the house, notebooks, or when we were at restaurants, the wait staff would bring paper to her – even if it was receipt paper. Her interest in scribbling and doodling got to the point that I had to carry paper and pens. Some parents have snacks in their purse; I had an art pad and colored ink pens – to each their own.
Olivia’s interest never went away; even when she started school, her cut-and-paste projects were a little more detailed than her fellow classmates’. It was evident that Olivia LOVED art!
Olivia’s art changed after her daddy passed away. I know the exact day and time it changed. It was her first day of summer break; she had just graduated kindergarten the day before. Her daddy passed away at 3:24 pm on May 16th, 2019. I told her the earth-shattering news before 5 pm (I know this because my son hadn’t been picked up from daycare yet). Olivia ran crying to her room, shut her door, and threw herself into her drawings.
I wanted to encourage her to draw so that she could process the loss of her daddy; they were so very close. I looked for art classes, but she wasn’t old enough to attend yet. When she did become old enough, COVID hit, so like the rest of the world, we were living in our own worlds at home. When the travel ban lifted and people could start interacting again, art classes started back up.
I found an art class started by a retired art teacher, The Miller Art Studio. Olivia loved it. She was learning all kinds of art techniques and disciplines, from painting and drawing to pottery, and the finished piece she brought home was amazing! Olivia was in her element and enjoyed every moment.
Olivia loved every bit of the art classes she took at Miller Studio. The day she found out the retired couple would be closing their doors was sad. She returned to her room with her sketchbook in hand.
Once again, I was searching for art classes. At the time, not many “in-person” classes were happening, and Olivia wasn’t a fan of virtual classes. If she was going to learn from a screen, she would rather watch YouTube videos.
The COVID pandemic took so much time away from people. It felt like we actually lost time! Finally, Olivia reached the age to attend the Chickasaw Nation Summer Arts Academy.
I'm That Mom 