One day, while my daughter was happily distracted in her own marker drawings, I decided to risk pulling out a new sketchbook I had special ordered. It had dark paper, and was perfect for adding highlights to. I had only drawn a little in it, and was anxious to try it again, but knowing our daughter’s love of art supplies, it meant that if I wasn’t sly enough, I might have to share. (Note: I’m all about kid’s crafts, but when it comes to my own art projects, I don’t like to share.) Since she was engrossed in her own project, I thought I might be able to pull it off.
Ahhh, I should’ve known better. No longer had I drawn my first face (I love drawing from old black & white movie stills) had she swooped over to me with an intense look. “OOOH! Is that a NEW sketchbook? Can I draw in that too, mama?” I have to admit, the girl knows good art supplies when she sees them. I muttered something about how it was my special book, how she had her own supplies and blah blah blah, but the appeal of new art supplies was too much for her to resist. In a very serious tone, she looked at me and said, “If you can’t share, we might have to take it away if you can’t share.”
Oh no she didn’t! Girlfriend was using my own mommy-words at me! Impressed, I agreed to comply. “I was going to draw a body on this lady’s face,” I said. “Well, I will do it,” she said very focused, and grabbed the pen. I had resigned myself to let that one go. To let her have the page, and then let it go. I would just draw on my own later, I decided. I love my daughter’s artwork, truly I do! But this was MY sketchbook, my inner kid complained.
Not surprisingly, I LOVED what she drew. I had drawn a woman’s face, and she had turned her into a dinosaur-woman. It was beautiful, it was carefree, and for as much as I don’t like to share, I LOVED what she had created. Flipping through my sketchbook, I found another doodle of a face I had not yet finished. She drew a body on it, too, and I was enthralled. It was such a beautiful combination of my style and hers. And she LOVED being a part of it. She never hesitated in her intent. She wasn’t tentative. She was insistent and confident that she would of course improve any illustration I might have done. …And the thing is, she DID.
Soon, she began flipping through my sketchbook, looking for more heads. “Do you have any heads for me today?” she would ask me each morning. So I began making a point at night to draw some faces for her (which was my pleasure–faces are my favorite part, anyway). She would then pick up a pen with great focus, and begin to draw. Later, I would add color and highlights, texture and painting, to make a complete piece. Sometimes she filled in the solid areas with colored markers, but I would always finish with acrylics later on my own.
Sometimes I would give her suggestions, like “maybe she could have a dragon body!” but usually she would ignore theses suggestions if it didn’t fit in with what she already had in mind. But since I am a grownup and a little bit (okay a lot) of a perfectionist, I sometimes would have a specific idea in mind as I doodled my heads. Maybe she could make this into a bug! I’d think happily to myself as I sketched, imagining the possibilities of what it could look like. So later, when she’d doodle some crazy shape that seemed to go in some surrealistic direction, or put a large circle around the creature and filled the WHOLE THING in with marker, part of my brain would think, What is she DOING?!? She’s just scribbling it all up! But I should know that in most instances, kids’ imaginations way outweigh a grownup’s, and it always ALWAYS looked better that what I had imagined. ALWAYS.
For example, the filled-in marker of the one above, she told me, was a chrysalis, for the caterpillar to transform into a butterfly. Of COURSE it is. I never would have thought of that. And that’s why kids make awesome artists.
Later, I would show her what I had done with our drawings–the painting and coloring. She seemed to critique them pretty harshly. “That’s silly, mama.” or “you put WATER behind her?” But for the most part, she enjoyed them. I enjoyed them. I LOVE them.
And from it all, here are the lessons I learned: to try not to be so rigid. Yes, some things (like my new sketchbook) are sacred, but if you let go of those chains, new and wonderful things can happen. Those things you hold so dear cannot change and grow and expand unless you loosen your grip on them a little. In sharing my artwork and allowing our daughter to be an equal in our collaborations, I helped solidify her confidence, which is way more precious than any doodle I could have done. In her mind, her contributions were as valid as mine (and in truth, they really were). Most importantly, I learned that if you have a preconceived notion of how something should be, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE DISAPPOINTED. Instead, just go with it, just ACCEPT it, because usually something even more wonderful will come out of it.
SIDE NOTE: As an idea (mainly for myself) I decided to put just a few of our collaborative prints up for sale on a site called Society 6. I purchased one myself (the space beavers, called “Outer Face”) to see how they would turn out, and I’m pretty happy with it. We’ve done dozens and dozens of collaborative sketches, but I only put a few up as prints. I’m not sure what to do with the others. Maybe make a children’s book out of them? Make poems to go along? I’m not sure, but I love them with a very large portion of my heart, and they need a special place.
busy mockingbird 
You should create a book of these! They are so sweet, interesting and lovely. As someone who personally writes poetry and adores illustration and children’s literature, I also think adding poetry to the book for each character would be grand.
Random idea- You could even take the collaboration a step further by asking other individuals to write poems for the characters.
This post made me so giddy! It is beautiful to see art created by a mother and a daughter. Simply beautiful.
This is brilliant stuff. Truly inspiring. If you’re thinking of making a collaborative book that includes a poem to go with each piece, I’ll be more than thrilled to collaborate. I’m a poet/creative writer myself. We can def do this over email. Cheers.
I love this so much! It would be fantastic to see them all in a book–I hope you decide to do it! (I’d buy your first copy.)
thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanx
I am blown away by the beauty of these pieces? Your daughter knows her stuff! Heading to Society 6 to purchase!
these are reminiscent of the work professional artists did for Charles Darwins original ‘Origin of the species’ and also political editorial cartooning of the era.
Exactly – a young child instinctively KNOWS that people are only part of the animal kingdom and owes everything to every species and should not kill off the members of its own kingdom with their greedy, materialistic use of resources. Thank you for this spontaneous homage to animals and PLEASE see the beauty of these prints of people with animal bodies as a call to action to guarantee animal survival – please!
Wonderful idea and they are great.
Great Stuff! Great portraits but nothing like the eye and imagination of a child. Great to see both skills combined. Keep sharing your work.
I think the two of you should collaborate on making a book together and getting it published with Northlight or Quarry……together you make awesome art
The merit of the child’s involvement is her creativity and world-view that is drastically different from us adults..but no less invalid. No doubt, the adult’s skill improves the works’ finishing and make it more acceptable to most people, it doesn’t diminish the importance of the child’s role in steering the adult’s original intent of the work off-course to arrive something that is fresh and new…
Remember at 13 years old Picasso could already paint realistically in the academic style like what you will see in the Renaissance period but he and many others took a lifetime to paint like a child..do not underestimate the creativity of a child not yet set in conventions..rather listen to what they have to say and we may gain new insight to our own works.
Found this through a friend’s posting on facebook…AMAZING, WONDERFUL!! I love these drawings and the whole time I was thinking of Kafka or James and the giant peach stories. They would make a great alternative children’s book series! Please, please write some!
The art is fine, but actually the first thing I noticed was how the daughter is holding the pen. I am an artist and taught my daughter how to hold a pen/pencil/brush correctly at age 2. Why is it so many kids these days (and some young adults!) hold their writing utensils like a dagger? I don’t get it. Again, not directed at the artist here, just an observation…
Thanks for your concern, but as a parent, I’ve learned that if I push her to something, she aggressively resists. If I let her discover the best way on her own (with my slight nudges), she finds it more quickly and easily. She is working on it. Children develop skills differently at different ages. She can hold correct pencil grip, but often reverts back to the fist style. All in good time.
It really is fascinating how children tend to hold pens and pencils like that. It definitely is not inhibiting her ability to be creative though!
great work , both of you!
I love how you let go of your perfectionism and embraced collaborating with your daughter. Often when my kids are painting they ask me to join in. It’s so therapeutic and relaxing and often the results are better than anything I could have created solo. You and your daughter are extremely talented! What a gift…
This is awesome. I do the same with my son now. Of course I draw cartoons and he just scribbles since he’s just 16 months old, but I love it. Maybe we can continue on like this together. I might have to go out and buy us a new sketchbook too. 🙂
Great works by the way.
This is great! I think a children’s book, especially poetry, is a wonderful idea. Good luck!
This is great! I think a children’s book, especially poetry, is a wonderful idea.
These are wonderful! So imaginative and creative. I love the collaboration!!
I’m so happy I came across ur blog. I have a friend who’s a writer. She has three daughters who are always painting or reading. I doodle myself a lot with them . Thanks for opening your world wth me.
My husband also does this with our children, but he lets them start the artwork with paint and then draws what he sees in the image with Sharpie markers. I love their priceless reactions even better than the art, at times. In regards to a previous post concerning your daughter’s grip… she obviously gets the job done no matter HOW she holds the darn thing! My kids didn’t hold their pens correctly until I taught them to use chopsticks. Go figure. Enjoy what you do, it is absolutely amazing. Your daughter will remember this for the rest of her life!
I love what this child made of her mothers faces. You just can’t put into words how,
beautiful the drawing came out with the daughters final touches.♥
I just have to say THANK YOU. I also saw this and immediately thought “of course!” along with “amazing, beautiful and super rad.” My son and I immediately made one and now I never want to stop. I drew his face and he turned himself into a chicken. It’s going on the wall asap. Again THANKS!! and well done!
Absolutely awesome, in the true sense of the word! I would love to see a book with these, and they would also make an excellent gallery show…What you learned is invaluable and to me, it’s the essence of art. I had an art teacher once who repeated all the time until we mimicked him for it, ‘One must feel free to experiment.’
Love it! So whimsical and mysterious. They look like magical creatures from an enchanted world. You should develop a story out of these.
Reblogged this on sherijkennedyriverside and commented:
I thought this article and the artwork within it excellent!
What a wonderful to share both talents! You are a wise Mom to “allow” your daughter to be herself. You not only are teaching her about art but teaching her how to interact with her own daughter someday. Way to go, Mom! She will be blessed with wonderful memories of her time with you in art together. (Ditto on the book idea! Do it!)
How do you purchase your pieces? The website seems to be down?
Ah, yes it goes down on occasion, but comes back up. Please try again! Society6.com/micaangela
[…] 4-year-old Myla asked her mom, artist Mica Angela Hendricks, if she could draw the bodies onto her mom’s portraits, Hendricks was skeptical at first. “I […]
You can publish this as is just expand on what you already have. You talk about your journey of overcoming the need to control the outcome and how your Daughter put your words back to the test in asking you to share. Amazing! I am going to share your story with my yoga students and I would certainly buy your book. I say just keep on keeping on. I love how Myla told you that her marker around the portrait was'” a chrysalis, for the caterpillar to transform into a butterfly. ” Then when you shared your own thoughts,” Of COURSE it is. I never would have thought of that. And that’s why kids make awesome artists” it made me chuckle. Those are deep nuggets!
Thank you for sharing!
YogaRenee
I am totally in love with them! I love your daughter’s imagination. She gives life to every face. I especially fell in love with the “Family in a Bubble” its one of my favorites. I love the fact how she drew the children inside the two faces; super cute. We all have rules for our kids, but one way or another they tend to change it all.
One of my favorite quotes comes from John Wilmot: “Before I got married I had six theories about raising children; now, I have six children and no theories.”
I would purchase some for my daughters bedroom; they are art admirers.
I’m speechless!
What amazing pictures!!! Something you will both cherish in later years. I was happy to read that you have put some up for sale. Etsy would be a wonderful venue for this type of art. If you are near the Marble Falls area there is a new shop Silver Linings. She is looking for local artists to sell their work in her shop. Just a thought! Keep up the wonderful creativity!!
I’d like to purchase a print from this collection. How can I contact you for this?
Prints are online at Society6.com/micaangela. Thanks so much!
That was a touching post..which brought me a step closer to my kids. Since I am not an artist at all, I may try this by cutting faces from mags and leave my child to figure it out after that…
I would love to have one of your drawings of my girls, ever considered doing portraits of others?
What an imagination! Great pictures. Thanks for sharing these.
Please collect them all in a book! I love em! I’m sure this has already happened, but maybe you should do the bodies sometimes and let her do the heads, or you do parts of faces or backgrounds or otherwise mix it up… Very fun! Thanks for sharing.
*LOVE* These are absolutely fantastic and dreamy collaborations.
These are gorgeous, and so much fun! If you do decide turn them into a book, I’d love to work with you on it–I’m an editor at Random House Children’s Books. You can email me at kdelaney [at] randomhouse [dot] com if you’d like to chat about it! And if not, keep posting! They’re delightful.
Reblogged this on Renae Rude – The Paranormalist and commented:
Oh this is just too cool. I can’t believe how much I love the finished products of this collaborative team.
You are a BRILLIANT parent and I’m really happy you’re out there ^.^
What a lovely post. I really enjoyed reading it (and you should SO do a book)!
Just followed you on Bloglovin too 🙂
Incredible! Whimsical and enthralling. You make a great artistic team! : )
Priceless!! You should ask your daughter to come up with stories for these characters. It would make an amazing picture book!
WOW! As an educator I am going to pass this along as we see our schools go further and further away from this natural curiosity, creativity and see our students for who they are. She is lucky to have you as a Mom!!
Tomasen
This would make a great picture book for kids…..I surely would put it in MY art class for the kids to enjoy and be inspired by!
i love this! now i want to collaborate with my five year old and see what happens.
This is a really special post…thanks for sharing!
I immediately fell in love with the artwork. Please keep the prints available so I can come back to them.
I cannot even explain how much I adore these. I get the whole possession thing as well, but good on you for letting her do her own thing with it. The result is awesome. And, like everyone else said, it would make a seriously cool book
Reblogged this on Make Something Mondays! and commented:
After a mother finally agrees to let her young daughter draw in her sketchbook, she discovers something amazing. This blog post will warm your heart!