My daughter has been going through a “drawing on herself” phase. This has occurred mostly with washable markers, so my wife and I figured it was better than her scribbling on the walls or furniture, which both of our children are fond of doing. Still, the body art got to a point at which we tried to redirect her back to plain old paper. Now I kind of wish we hadn’t. I miss the Dolphin.
That’s right, the Dolphin. Evidently, applying multiple colors to one’s hand and forearm is the best way to create a friendly and intelligent marine mammal. We know where she got her basic awareness of dolphins—from a library book—but I’m still trying to get a better picture of her thought process. Either she envisions her hand as the ideal canvas on which to depict a dolphin or she wishes the humble, landlocked appendage could actually be the subject of a Cousteau documentary.
In other words, is the Dolphin a tattoo or a puppet? Is it a kind of talisman or an attempt to inhabit another form of life? For now it’s all a matter of interpretation. Until a clear answer emerges, I’ll content myself with being in awe of the almost-three-year-old imagination.
wonderful description Scott! I love to hear how you are trying to understand and not constrain your imaginative child ~ it’s so important for her! And you are obviously doing a great job. Way to go!
Thanks Angela, nice of you to say it. Of course, I’m sure this is an experience that almost all parents go through (i.e. watching and learning from the artistic activities of their children). What’s also interesting is that she’ll make certain kinds of curving scribble marks on paper and call these “dolphins” as well. It’s yet another mysterious aspect of the creative process that all kids use in one way or another.