My son Davey, aged 4.5, really enjoys my paint by numbers hobby. For years now he has liked to wake up in the morning and find my canvas sitting on the dining room table – a sure sign that I’ve been indulging. He is proud of my progress and he always thinks that anything I paint is a masterpiece!
The other day I overheard him showing off my latest project, which is only 20% complete, to his best friend, explaining how his mommy is working on this special painting for a long time and that he (his friend) is not allowed to touch it (Davey allows himself this privilege).
He is a big encouragement to me.
This week he took his interest in my hobby to a new level. Every night before he goes to bed we spend about 20 minutes alone together doing whatever he likes. We used to read stories, but this has been out of favor with him. Sometimes we have played board games. More recently he has liked to sit with me and do his drawings or art projects. He is very passionate about coloring in with colored pencils and sometimes crayons.
Then a few days ago he requested that he could sit with me while I worked on my Paint by Numbers. I asked him if he wanted to do his own drawing while I painted but he said no. He just wanted to watch.
He helped me clear my space and set up my little kit. I asked him what part he wanted me to paint and he chose the pink flowers (see the photo of this work-in-progress on the right). He watched with fascination as I mixed the colors and began to paint carefully. After a few nights we have settled that it is his jobs to tell me what to paint next, to remind me if I have skipped an area which has the right number, and wash my brush between colors. He also finds it necessary to gently chide me if I go outside the lines – he is in kindergarten and he knows what’s important in life!
My job is to enjoy his company and not get upset when he spills the dirty paint water onto my canvas, like he did last night. We dabbed it off with the rag and there was no harm done.
Last night I took a photo of where we’re up to with “our” painting. Davey keeps telling me that it looks good, and I have to say I think my PBN creations are beautiful at every stage. This kit is a European one made by LeFranc & Bourgeois and the design is called “Maison Fleurie Alfresco 10251.” Anyone know what that means?
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