How to unlock a puzzle
Kids participate in live art performance
Sometimes the best way to unlock a puzzle is to make one.
And that’s exactly what happened during a live performance painting extravaganza for kids held recently.
There were splotches of blue and yellow, puddles of red and green, and no shortage of spills and chills as the artists, some as young as four years old, got down to work.
“The idea is for each artist to paint one or two pieces of the puzzle,’’ says artist David Trimble, who staged the event. “And then we put all the painted squares together for the final painting.”
The two hour event acted as the official opening of the kids’ art show now on display at the Juice Box Café on Main Street throughout the month of January.
“Any child can paint and the idea is to let them learn the science so they can unlock the creativity,’’ said Trimble as he hands out small squares that act as the puzzle pieces.
Along with the squares, Trimble distributes cut out pieces of paper, like a puzzle, that contain sections of a larger image. It’s not paint by numbers, its paint by “grids” and when completed, the puzzle pieces are fitted together and become the painting.
Kirsten Kouwenberg of Vernon River has been taking Trimble’s classes at his Cambridge studio for a number of years.
“I just love using colours to create something,’’ says the 13year-old.
Trimble says he’s always intrigued how children become absorbed in painting without having any idea of what the final image will be.
Ennis Jamieson is only four years old and has more paint on her face and hands than on her grid.
But, it’s truly hard to believe the level of talent exhibited in her painting of horses in a field that is part of the art show.
“It’s a great way to spice up January,’’ says Juice Box owner Jana Furness. “We’ve got the whole place filled with children’s paintings and people are really surprised at the colours and images.”