Project 365 d-187

     From a distance I could see my children had been busy with chalk mixed with some water.  Words of lecture about cleaning up messes were already formed and rolling off the assembly line in preparation for launching as I approached their mess. When I got to the area where they had been playing, the words were ready to fly, but they were the wrong words. They didn't need a lecture. They needed a praise for being kids and creating such a magic scene. I just stood there nearly drooling over the all the wonderful marks painted out on the cement canvas. "This is just amazing!" I chided myself at the thought of me lecturing them over this. "Isn't Art supposed to be fun?", I asked already knowing the answer. They had all the answers, and all I had were stern words about cleaning up messes. Right in front of me were  precious footprint tracings, and girly- swirls of pastel chalk drawn by innocent, yet genius hands. It was spectacular to see all this clever design laying before me now, and I hurried to get my camera spitting out the unnecessary words as I went.

     My surprise at finding art just then unnerved me. It was not supposed to jump out at me when I was fully prepared to deliver a fine lecture. It's a proven fact that lectures should not be wasted. Just ask my Father and he will tell you it's true. As I photographed, I could hear my two little artists inside the house watching TV and acting like girls their ages do. They were completely unaware of how tongue tied I was upon seeing their masterpieces. That is so pure. They created all of this not wanting to please somebody else, but out of a simple need to create. It didn't matter what others thought; they just drew with clear minds and hearts. When they were done they just walked away leaving their creation to sit there for anyone who wished to look. What a lesson for me scribbled in sidewalk chalk on the front porch of my home. Create because I need to, share because I want to, and through both become young again. "Thanks girls for the wonderful art, but more importantly for the reminder to create what I like, and not what I think others want to see."

Happy Shooting.