I finally decided that I was brave enough to let Diego, at 15 months have his first painting experience. Decked out in full art smocks and protective table cloth, I set up the paints amidst squeals of excitement and desperation to get at that paint now! For the 20 minutes that it occupied them, we were all fully engaged and mesmerized by the mixing and splashing of the liquid tempera paints. Every minute or so, I had to pull the paintbrush away from Diego’s mouth. I was successful right up until we ran out of paper and I had to go to another room to get it. When I came back, I saw this:

I had to chuckle at his mouth full of yellow paint. Even though something tastes really bad, at this age, they just can’t help themselves.

Isabela really got into mixing the colors.

Then they were done and it was time to clean up. I love how Diego’s painting sprawled across the table, not limiting himself to the paper, like we do when we get older.

On our way to clean up, with a couple of painted hands and a few tired eye rubs, Diego’s painting suddenly moved to his face.

After that, it only took, oh, 30 minutes, plus a load of laundry to clean it all up, give or take. Which is why I think that only sometimes, I am a brave artist-mom.