If you have kids, nieces or nephews or grandchildren, you know that sometimes, another lego kit is just too many legos. Frivolous toys as gifts are fun for a while and definitely should remain a part of childhood, but we also think that giving the gift of art to young ones can be extra special and last them a lifetime.
As a mother of two pre-teen girls, Liz has given us some insight into what makes gifting art to them special.
Let’s face it . . . kids love the satisfaction of immediacy. I can’t tell you how many toys ended up in my house because one of my daughter’s fell head over heels in love with a $5 stuffed toy with big eyes that for some suspicious reason was strategically placed near check out. Christmas wish lists from little ones often include variations of the same plastic toys that will be lucky to last a few months, let alone travel with them to adulthood.
As an artist and collector I saw the first few Christmases with my kids as an opportunity to start their art collections. Before my girls had the opportunity to ask Santa for the Doc McStuffins mobile unit (approximately 74 pieces of plastic), Barbies or My Little Pony I gave them the gift of artwork that I hope will travel with them to their first apartments and beyond.
Now that they are pre-teens, loving the independence that comes with expressing their personal aesthetic (they use this word often so I guess it’s trending) art collecting has become their choice and they are building some impressive collections.
Not gonna lie, we have horse prints from Target mixed in with the original artwork, but over time the Target prints will fade and the original artwork will remain and the lesson in investing in artwork that will last a lifetime is realized (probably at the same age that they recognize I’m a genius).
The allure in continuing to purchase artwork for my daughters over the years is that it so beautifully commemorates their meaningful life experiences. It’s hard to find a gift that’s more personal than artwork.
Over the years we have seen many collectors give the gift of art and when it allows a child the opportunity to develop an interest in art, it's even more exciting.
A couple of ways we recommend starting this tradition is by bringing your child into the gallery to select their favorite piece! With work starting at just $45, you don't have to break the bank.
Another way is to consider your child's likes. Are they really into butterflies or trucks? Do they adore purple? Find works of art that you think they will enjoy, even if they don't quite understand the excitement of original art just yet.
The holidays are a great time to start the tradition by layering in the lasting gift of art with the other goodies on their list!