Bradford artist gives children chance to show off their artwork

Their joyous naivety and wild imagination means they are not restricted by what is acceptable - the so-called rules of producing art - and what is correct or not correct.

Perhaps we could all learn from their freedom of expression. I often feel sorry when adults say: “I can`t paint.”

Give them huge pots of paint, a floor covered in paper and shout: “PLUNGE YOUR HANDS IN THAT PAINT AND COVER THE PAPER!” There you go...an abstract painting. I guarantee they wouldn’t look back.

Lately, I have been reminded about my early childhood and how I was encouraged from the age of four to experiment with different mediums, mainly pencil or water colours.

Spenceley by Matilda Rose Dean, aged six

These days the resource options for young artists are endless, which is wonderful and should be taken advantage of.

Some parents, carers and teachers who are not artistic themselves may shy away from introducing their children to art materials. However, given the few resources they need it is surprising how little adult guidance children need.

Their heads are like giant sponges, taking in shapes, colours and sounds. It doesn’t matter if a tree is painted blue, a face has a nose on the forehead or a dog has three legs with a red spotted body. Who cares? We only have to look back at all the art movements over the past one hundred years to find that these images would fit in somewhere, without looking out of place.

Let young children experiment and have the freedom whilst they can. I appreciate that some skills have to be taught in schools, for example, colour mixing, perspective, and pencil techniques are disciplines which may come in useful, especially to young people wishing to take up a career in art. After all, art is not only drawing and painting.

‘Mr Funny Face’ by two-year-old Elias

Many primary schools don`t have standalone art lessons anymore, which I find worrying. It is “brought into” other lessons such as History. When learning about the great fire of London the children create a red, yellow and orange painting or collage. Oh Please! I can’t tell you how many displays on school corridors I have seen with a collection of buildings on fire. This is not including an art session or, to be honest, enhancing their knowledge of this historic event.

I do know the pressures of following rules in school - believe me, I was always in trouble for going off on a tangent in art.

I would like you to take a close look at the exciting paintings on this page by children who have so obviously had a fun time producing them. The jolly plate collage by Elias, Matilda`s wonderful dog portrait, Penny`s fabulous messy hand painting, the careful whale shark by Aydin and lastly Evie’s colourful Rainbow Garden.

Rainbow Garden by Evie Dobson Reed, aged three

Please keep your artwork coming in, as I have a big event in the pipeline. Watch this space.

Messy Hands by Penny Crewe, two

Email me at red4paint@yahoo.co.uk

* Lynne Dobson is a Bradford artist and retired art teacher. She recently appeared on BBC2’s Joe Lycett: Summer Exhibitionist.