Art has been my “second nature” since childhood. Especially visual arts and music. I vividly remember one incident at a physics lesson at my primary school. My teacher was pleading with me to at least stop drawing even if I did not listen 0:))). I am sorry, Mrs. Migrová, you were such a lovely person and a great teacher! Just my mind couldn’t care less about levers, pullies, or inertia. At least I know Archimedes’ law that says something like skinny people must jump into the water twice to make it splash, if I remember correctly.

 

 

When our family did homeschooling, I loved doing art projects with my kids the most. One day an excellent book Mimi a Líza by Katarína Kerekesová, Katarína Moláková, and Alexandra Salmela http://www.mimializa.sk got into my hands. My daughters and I fell in love w

ith it. One of the chapters was about discovering the beauty of colours with a grumpy janitor Mrs. Grey.

 

 

I was inspired to look at colours differently — from a point of view of a blind child, as Mimi was blind. Many children can see them, but some can’t. Still, they can taste them, smell them and touch them. I asked my girls to think about how colours would feel to touch, and what would they smell and sound like. My kids came up with some really charming suggestions. Then I asked them to pick a colour each and paint a monochromatic picture using different tints, shades, and tones of the same colour.

(I found a great explanation for these terms on https://www.color-meanings.com/shade-tint-tone-difference/ )

I was left with a strong feeling for disabled children. I longed to show children a better understanding for others, especially those different from them. Also, to “think out of the box”, from a creative perspective.

That’s why the illustrations connect the seemingly unconnected or even absurd. In such a way, I could help to develop children’s imagination and at the same time awaken understanding for the disadvantaged and a sense of gratitude for their own healthy senses.

So I added my own thoughts about the colours and painted pictures to each of them.

Illustrations and the graphic design of the book have been supported by FPU (Slovak Arts Council) and now we are trying to find a publishing house to actually publish the book. Even though I envisioned this process to be much easier and quicker, I learned a lot and I am slowly moving towards its completion.

I challenge you to go for a walk or sit in your favourite chair with a cup of coffee (or tea 🙂 ) and think about your dreams. What are your dreams? Are they alive or long forgotten? Dust them and start living them again. What are you going to do today to start on the journey of their fulfillment? Age, expertise, or time do not matter! I know it from my own experience.