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 
[…] http://busymockingbird.com […]
Reblogged this on Cassandra Hueser and commented:
I love this so much, I don’t think words can actual express how amazing this collaboration is. Someday, I hope Lil’ Dude and I can share in art too.
This is simply fantastic! I absolutely adore these!! Thank you so much for sharing. There’s a very special four year old in my life who loves to draw, so I am planning to see what becomes of that, especially now that I am going to be approaching our drawing times together a bit differently! Can’t thank you enough!
I linked to this article from my blog – it reminded me so much of how a run of mine with my toddler son turned into a rainbow dash(http://nourishncherish.wordpress.com/2013/09/10/rainbow-dash/). I enjoyed it so much. Thanks for sharing it with us.
[…] I do so hope you’ve seen this amazing post from illustrator and artist Mica Angela Hendricks: Collaborating with a 4-year-old. […]
the best of all possible worlds – thanks for bringing this thing of beauty to us to behold and love, truly
This is inspirational. What an amazing thing to share with your daughter…and what a gift you have given to each other through your collaboration. Also, you are an extremely kick ass artist.
Wow, just great! The last picture was enthralling!
I love all these images so much! I will absolutely buy at least one in frame to put on the wall in my living room.
Found you through Dooce. This collaboration with your daughter is mind blowingly amazing. Love the art. And also love the lesson behind it. Thank you for sharing.
[…] Artist Mica Angela Hendricks discovered through her 4 year-old daughter that when it comes to her art, two heads are better than one. Hendricks would draw a detailed head and her daughter would add a body and any background that she saw fit. Hendricks admits, “It was beautiful, it was carefree, and as much as I don’t like to share, I LOVED what she had created.” […]
These are AWESOME! As soon as I can sneak off from my hubby, I plan to buy a few to place in interesting spots around the house. He says I can’t buy any more at until I hang what we have. 😉
I don’t suppose if someone were to send you a picture, you could do a custom collaboration?
This is amazing! I love it! I just stumbled across you via Freshly Pressed, but you’re an incredible artist as well.
Reblogged this on and commented:
MARAVILLOSO!
Loved your love of this project!
These are simply amazing. I love to collaborate with my kids. So fun!
Reblogged this on Vashti Quiroz-Vega's Blog and commented:
This is a must see! Illustrator Mica Angela Hendricks Showcases her and her 4 year old daughter’s unique series of whimsical sketches. It is an awesome collaboration and I truly believe you will enjoy it.
I’ve seen this all over the internet. I’m glad that I found your blog. This is lovely.
Well, thank you! It’s good to have you!
They are brilliant! I honestly think they make the drawings more interesting! Not saying that what you do isn’t 😀
“If you can’t share, we might have to take it away if you can’t share.” <- this made me crack up LMAO
Ha! Thank you. She is at that age, where she believes the rules apply to BOTH of us. For the most part, yes, but there are advantages (I tell her) to being an adult. But she swears she doesn’t want to grow up, and really…I can’t blame her. 🙂
Smart kiddo, I shared this over at my FB page I hope that was okay. 🙂
Totally okay! Thank you!
So imaginative and wonderful….I wish I would have done this with my daughter when I was in art school…. precious memories
Such a fun experience for you both! Your daughter has an awesome imagination! Where did you special order your sketchbook from? I shared this with my artist husband, and he commented on what a nice sketchbook it was. 🙂
Thanks! It’s called Earthbound by Cachet, but I just saw that Michael’s had the same natural-papered sketchbooks by Strathmore, along with GRAY, which I had never seen before! Might be the best bet. Thick paper, good for drawing and still stands up to acrylic paint…
I appreciate the reply and have passed the info along. He has several Strathmore books, but none in the natural paper or gray. It’s on the wish list now for sure!
These drawings are amazing. What fun you both have had. I think the best part is that it shows what a wonderful loving relationship the two of you have, and the kind of mom you are!
Thank you! We have good days and bad. But she’s my top priority, and she’s an awesome kid.
Just one thing I noticed: I think that your daughter is doing really good job as for four years old but please put attention on the way in which she’s holding a pen, with a whole fist. Now is the good moment for you to show her proper way, it will make her easier to learn handwriting.
http://www.hwtears.com/hwtconnections/2011/oct/gripfeature
Thank you for your concern. There has been MUCH talk of her pen grip. She knows both ways and still chooses this one for now. All in good time.
I’d buy a book with these pictures and matching rhymes in a second. LOVE.
[…] Read more about this project or buy some of the mother-daughter duo’s prints. […]
A: Your collaborative drawings are freaking fantastic. I have a 3 year old son and have wanted to try some of these for a while, but can never seem to find the time. 2: If you ever do decide to turn these pieces into a book, please let us know. I would snap one up for sure.
They are wonderful. I can see them as greeting cards too!
Reblogged this on Healthy Intentions and commented:
This has nothing to do with healthy living…or does it? 😛
Either way its fabulous and really speaks to me today in my post binge contemplative mood.
[…] Mica Angela Hendricks is an artist with a four-year old. Recently they “collaborated” on some art…actually, Mica got a new sketchbook, and her daughter wanted to share it. Because after all, “If you can’t share, we might have to take it away if you can’t share.” Read the story of their collaboration HERE. […]
Reblogged this on maison gagnon and commented:
The imaginative space of a child’s mind and the magical place of collaboration.
Just beautiful, I am shopping your work on Society 6 right now. I adore these!
this is soooo great! so glad I found it. completely had me smiling!!!! thanks!
Hi, Absolutely Brilliant… Wish I had the guts to let my kids ‘take over’ like that…
Reblogged this on clayzmama says…… and commented:
Brilliant! Check this out!
How wonderful! I miss the days of childhood where imagination was so real and vivid. You could have people send you a photograph and you do their faces and she do the rest…I would love to see what I could be!
Awesome! I so love this! Thank you for sharing!
I love this so much. Are you willing to sell you & your daughter’s art piece?
Thank you! No we’re not selling the originals just yet, but the prints are available at society6.com/micaangela
Very cool, How nice of you to share with her 😉 The drawings would look great in a kid’s book ! Telling the ‘story’ of sharing or of creating the art from the child’s voice (Pt of view) could be fun and a different twist- Although its really funny and so truthful the way you have shared it here.
I like that! I’m working on it now, and it’s a bit of a struggle, but once I think I get it, I think it’ll make a fun book…
[…] As told in the blog post, “Collaborating with a 4-year-old”: […]
WOW! Thank you so much for sharing these. So true about preconceived notions and disappointment, I’m trying to get better about just going with it (whatever it may be) 🙂
[…] colossal busymockingbird […]
Ah… I always find myself having to share, too. (Which is why I find myself occasionally hiding in my closet just so I can eat something by myself!) But seeing this makes me want to get a sketchbook to share with my little artist; she would love that!
[…] So! Diesen Link hab ich definitiv bei der Bloggess gesehen! Und er ist so so so so wundertoll. Eine Mutter macht Kunst mit ihrer vierjährigen Tochter. Muss ich mal mit Herrn Strichkringel “Das ist ein Buntes” Bastian ausprobieren […]
Love these!! So creative. Yes you should make them a children’s book with your above comments included for all to read!! Fabulous!! Get in touch w Amy Edgar on tips for publishing children’s books.
Great to see you during the fun wedding festivities!!
Those drawings are fabulous! You are definitely very talented! Your daughter’s addition just makes it perfect. Definitely something to look back on later in life.
I read about these a few weeks ago and LOVE them! I was wondering if you would sell a few and am so tickled to be able to own some for my house. Slug lady and the outerspace beaver people are my faves 😀
Brilliant. Utterly brilliant. Ever since I started to grow up, I’ve considered kids underrated.
It would make sense to get a teenager to do the writing. Or a grandparent. Yes, I can definitely imagine my grandmother writing down the delightful stories she used to tell me.
Amazing, amazing. (Found you through Dooce.)
I also have trouble sharing my art supplies. Will have to rethink this. And if only we could harness that childhood creative energy as adults. Have yet to discover how.
Wow, hilarious AND beautiful. What a rare combo! I’m so glad I stumbled upon these. Your own sketches are fantastic.
This is great! I don’t know why so many of them remind of the odd beings on the zany Terry Gilliam cartoon interludes in Monty Python. Have you tried switching w/ you drawing the bodies and let her do the faces, who knows what will emerge …