Creating With Kids Underfoot

What a year 2020 has thrown at us! How many of you are trying to work with kids at your feet, or homeschooling and stuck in isolation? It is HARD WORK. But I’ve had some experience with this and hope I can give you some tips to help get you through.

Currently I have three kids aged 4, 7 and 10. They’ve grown up surrounded by art, creativity and my arts practice that has become an anytime day/night kind of process. You see, working as a commercial artist/illustrator across the world wide web means that I don’t have set working hours and I have had meetings or conference calls at 2-4am! It takes flexibility but luckily I love what I do and I try to integrate my children around my creating.

My eldest daughter curious about the portrait that I’m painting.

My eldest daughter loved her bumbo. Here she is watching me as I work late filling wholesale orders.

My eldest daughter trying to colour in some bunting that I illustrated.

Kids are wonderful for seeking our attention. They’re hungry, tired, bored, overtired, overexcited, really bored, don’t want to clean their room, don’t want to go to bed, can’t be bothered cleaning…. you get the picture. So there are a few tricks up my sleeve.

1 - Distract them - give them something new to do

2 - Contain them - a chair, a playpen, a walker. Whatever keeps them safe and secure so they can play with their toys and explore but at the same time they are around you. My kids loved the routine of coming into mummy’s studio and being in their special space.

3 - Involve them. Kids love to help, so give them a task. My eldest daughter loves sorting, my other daughter loves searching and my son is great at moving things around.

4 - Keep sessions short. This way they don’t get bored, it is a fun adventure and they feel part of the process.

5 - Never leave them unattended. No matter the age I promise you!! I went to the toilet once and returned to an almost completed commissioned painting covered in white handprints which was a very hard lesson to learn!

My son has just as much fun playing with the textas as he does drawing with them.

Late night watercolour painting. Whilst I worked on my own piece my eldest daughter created something of her own.

My son just loves being in the studio to draw.

6. Teach them. When they get old enough they’ll love to be your assistant. It is a great way they can learn about working in the real world and learning new skillsets.

Perth Makers Market Dec 2019 - Funny Selfie time!! A great way to make a hard day FUN

Perth Makers Market Dec 2019 - Two assistants this time with my daughter & my niece

Made On The Left Market Nov 2019 - My eldest daughter as my assistant for her first time. She was paid and could spend it on items of her choice at the market and then we had a relaxing night swimming at the beach as the sun went down.

7. Take time out if you need it - Don’t try to juggle a sick child while slammed with a mass of orders/fine detailed paintwork. Life happens, make smart decisions and step away if you need to. Juggling kids/a small business/life can be hard work and you need to be flexible.

8. Share them - Playdates, adventures out, networking opportunities…. there are so many adventures they can join you on that still benefits your arts practice. On many occasions my kids have joined me for exhibition openings, lunches, gallery visits and research outings. We both have different experiences and interpretations, but including them can be really beneficial to all of us.

Made On The Left Meetup - 2012

That is just a brief outline of what you can do. I’ve been so happy that I’m able to run my business from home in my studio and it allows me to be part of my childrens lives. I can attend their assemblies and school sporting events. I’m there to wave to them as they catch the bus, I am involved in their day and when they are away I’ll do as much work as I can.

Last of all I wanted to share a work that I started during lockdown with the three kids. I wanted an artwork that I could work on every few days as a way to switch off and recharge. I’m so pleased with the end result.

I titled it “Did I Dream That You Dreamed Of Me”

You can view all of my available originals in the shop.