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 
Here’s a book with drawings and texts from my daughter (from 3 to 6 years old). After the bedtime story I read, she was telling me the stories of Nibiapa (a character made only with squares: head, toes, legs,…). I took notes carefully of her words and we mixed those with our drawings;
http://www.r-diffusion.org/index.php?ouvrage=LUS-03
Are you exhibiting these anywhere?
Nope! Unless my living room counts…
I think it does! 😀
they should be exhibited somewhere!
they should be exhibited somewhere!
What fun! I’ve enjoyed looking at your blog, and hope that the time flies for your daughter until daddy comes home again.
Thank you so much! One month down, 8 more to go… 🙂
im so loving these pieces. what a fantastic collaboration. i adore the effortlessly integrated styles. seeing them has sparked me to explore some interesting new ideas in my own work. thank you for sharing.
That’s so wonderful! I love hearing that!
時計 ウォッチ
Oh I would let you two do portraits for the whole fam! Would you? Will you?
Thank you–custom work would be fun, but I don’t think we want to put the pressure to perform on her so young. I hope you understand! Thanks
Reblogged this on TheMissedFoodConnection and commented:
This is so very beautiful!
I’d buy a book of those.
These are amazing! I love seeing the world through a child’s eyes but it’s even more awesome to see how you two have collaborated together. Haha… the sketch pad thing reminds me of an occasion when I was babysitting my nieces for the afternoon. We were drawing together with crayons (and I was actually starting to enjoy it despite initial reluctance) when all of a sudden, the four year old remarked, ‘Aunty Laura, not like that!’. She reached across and drew a great big line right through the centre of my drawing before sketching some sort of fox. I cried inside. Then I appreciated it. Sort of 😉
Yes, it IS pretty hard to see something you’re proud of be “embellished” by a kid. But also, interesting to see from their point of view why it should be a certain way! I’ve learned not to get too emotionally invested in the early stages!
This nearly made me cry I loved it so much. Sounds like you have a beautiful relationship and I want to buy one of these from you!
Well, thank you so much! Right now, we’re only offering prints at Society6.com and shirts on RedBubble (http://www.redbubble.com/people/busymockingbird/collections/241700-collaborations). I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
[…] Mica Angela Hendricks, from busymockingbird.com, posted about her wonderfully whimsical collaborations with her 4-year old daughter, I was so […]
[…] Read more about this project or buy some of the mother-daughter duo’s prints. […]
[…] foto viene da questo blog e ringrazio l’autrice. Il blog, di sicuro, merita una […]
[…] Per tutte le info: https://busymockingbird.com/2013/08/27/collaborating-with-a-4-year-old/ […]
Fantestiche!!
I’d really love you and your daughter to do portraits of my family!! Please say you will!
Thank you so much! I’d love to do custom pieces, but for our daughter’s sake, I don’t want to put the pressure of custom orders on her at such a young age. I hope you understand!
These are really cool.
I really like the contrast between the almost perfectly drawn heads and the scribbled rest of body. I think that you’ve documented both yours and your daughters ideas splendidly to make a very aesthetically interesting piece.
I may have to have an experiment with this kind of thing!
Keep it up.
Harry
Thank you so much! Yes, you should give it a try–I learn new things from my daughter all the time.
[…] mother, a professional artist, and owner of the Busy Mocking Bird Blog filling her sketchbook up with drawings of faces (usually taken from old black & white movies […]
I’d love to see more!
Thanks! You can see more prints on Society6.com/micaangela. I put a few on t-shirts at Redbubble (http://www.redbubble.com/people/busymockingbird/collections/241700-collaborations)
Fantastic! I’ll check it out. Thx!
I bought the Blue Dragon t-shirt. I’m so excited!
Awesome! I love that one–hope you do too!
Thanks! Btw, I saw how you don’t want to put too much pressure on your daughter, which I totally get. I’m a mom too 😉 However…if you two happened to create a print in which the person has dreadlocks, I would buy that shirt too!
[…] stumbled across the virtual space of an illustrator called the busy mockingbird and stumbled across this post. I read her entire blog and ordered a few of the amazing creatures the same […]
I’m so glad you like and appreciate them! That stinks about the customs fee. 😦 I hope you enjoy them for a long time! Thanks so much!
Howdy! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok.
I’m definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.
Yes! @busymockingbird
Awesome!!!!!!!! Just loved all the art work, the description and the bonding of the two of you. Congratulations to both of you 🙂
[…] An illustrator collaborating with her four years old daughter. With astonishing results (see picture above and more behind the link.) […]
[…] An artist collaborated with her 4 year old daughter to create beautiful illustrations. Just so brilliant. […]
Awwe this is such a wonderful story. You have not only created wonderful pieces together but the memories she will have forever of your bonding time will be cherished. So many times as busy moms we tend to pacify or push our kids away while we work not realizing that if we incorporate them that the results can be awesome. I ran into your blog by accident but a fortunate one at that. I am a fan and you have inspired me to find something i can do together with my girls instead if them doing their own things while i do mine. Great mom award to you hun. Best wishes from my family to yours.
Thank you so much! It was a challenge at first melding the two different worlds of “myself” and “mommy,” but I have enjoyed making her a part of what I love, and she seems to have grown from it. Thank you so much, and I love that it inspires you to do something similar…that’s exciting to me!
What a great way to spend time together! Beautiful portraits, thank you for sharing with us.
Thank you! I’m glad to!
[…] Read more about this awesome mother-daughter project. […]
These are excellent. And so belong on my wall.
I’d buy more prints if you put others out.
Or electronic images for electronic picture frames and wallpapers.
These are excellent. And totally belong on my wall.
I’dbuy prints if you put up more for sale. Or electronic high res images for wallpapers and electronic frames.
I also think these would be great for old-fashioned animated stories.
The colours and style remind me a bit of the art in Studio Ghibli films.
Thank you! I put several shirt up on Society6.com/micaangela. I’m glad you like them! (Also, I’ve got some shirts at http://www.redbubble.com/people/busymockingbird/works/10916415-lizapillar)
You’re a very brave and trusting mum and type quite right, these are gorgeous. I wonder whether you could make a children’s drawing book with printed faces and a few works with your daughter as examples. Good luck. I have no doubt your daughter will remember your understanding kindness when she was 4 and you may do even more amazing collaborations when she’s 24 and 34.
Thankyou! I’d love to work it into some sort of children’s book, but can’t seem to get the right jive going with a publisher. We’re working on it! Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoy them.
Maybe check out lulu . Com for small print runs.
Just love this, such a fantastic idea. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Do you have an exhibit for this? Or even sell any of your colabos??? These are amazing!!!!!
I do not–just the prints on Society6.com/micaangela Thank you!
Wow and double wow.
Very exciting for the both of you.
You have an incredible gift between you and daughter.
A true blessing.
Oh!! I enjoyed reading your sharing haha. And .. I wish you’ll do so, make a book about it and write poems about each art created together with your daughter! It’s so amazing. Children love to read such books. Love the work done up, kudos!
Love from Singapore,
Angela Lim
Awesome and amazing!
Would you take commissions- like making my own head into something fun?
Really lovely! These are fantastic. My husband sounds just like you, when he gets new art supplies, and hopes our daughter will be happy with hers and leave his alone. I am showing him this, may inspire some collaborations between them too!
I vote for poetry! They would lend themselves beautifully to an introduction of children to both art and poetry. Thank you for these. We ordered three prints this morning after discovering your site.
What a beautiful thing! I can almost see this leading to an interactive children’s book, one that encourages them and their parents to create together. Maybe mixed in with other ideas for creativity for the less drawing-inclined… 🙂
[…] the whole article here. Source: […]
Absolutely love it! We need to listen to our children more often!
[…] and mama, Mica Angela Hendricks, writes about creating collaborative artwork with her four-year-old daughter. Check out her blog, The Busy Mockingbird, for more of this […]
I would love to write a children’s book to go with this art. I’m a child development teacher in Manhattan Beach Calif.
Let me know if you’re interested!
Love the art.
Thank you! I have actually started a collaborative story with them…I’m hoping to show it to some publishers soon. Thanks!
I really think these works of art are marvelous. They seem to have a wonderful combination of fine art drawing and a wonderful whimsy – I normally am not a fan of this because I’m more drawn to realism but I just love the combination. What a wonderful collaboration I think you need to do a show and make lotts of money –
Sincerely
David Q
AHHH thank you very much!
I’m in love with them. I think a children’s book would be beautiful. Cards or t shirts I know tons of people who would love these.
Thank you! We have the prints available at society6.com/micaangela, and shirts & animals on red bubble: http://www.redbubble.com/people/busymockingbird/collections/241700-collaborations
I just ordered one of your prints off of Society6.com. I thought I was purchasing an original. I was inspired to buy and didn’t read the details in the description. Are these signed or numbered, by any chance? I’d like to return a few, if possible.
I’m very sorry to hear that. 😦 Since Society6 is a separate business, your best bet would probably be to contact them as soon as possible. We are not currently selling the originals; I’d like to keep them for my daughter.
i love these! you have to make a book. you have to!!! i will buy it.
Thank you! I am hoping to! We’ve had a few nibbles, but no bites yet…
Or greeting cards or stationery… I’m thinking also a “notebook” of sorts where we can write our own stories on one side about the wonderful sketches on the other side of the spread. So lovely, really!
This is beautiful 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Nasyitah
These are amazing! Are you going to sell any of the originals? I think it would be a great conversation piece on the wall!
Thank you! No, we don’t plan to; I’d like to keep the originals for our daughter…
I love you and your daughters work! Would you be willing to sell one of your collaborations? Amazing!
Thank you! We’re not selling the originals, but the prints are online at society6.com/micaangela or on red http://www.redbubble.com/people/busymockingbird/collections/241700-collaborations