We are back after a long vacation. Sid and Nidhi enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Lots of learning happened though it all went undocumented. We bought loads of drawing notebooks and color materials to keep them busy and they filled every page and asked for more. Their drawings are getting more detailed by the day.
I started noticing that their more recent drawings and paintings are featuring themselves. One day I observed that almost all of their little characters had only one eye and a mouth. (The nose has always been missing in their drawings.) I enquired, "Why have you drawn only one eye?". Sid excitedly replied, "Because I am looking to the side, mom. See, when you look to the side I can see only one eye of yours."
I was impressed with their observation. Considering their interest in drawing, that too in drawing themselves, I set up an activity to do self portraits.
The twins were very excited to draw themselves. I showed them examples of other kindergarteners' self portraits on internet.
I explained to them that they must observe their facial features very closely on the mirror and try to draw them. They readily accepted it as a challenge.
The very first hurdle they faced was the size of the drawing. They are so used to drawing miniature figures that the idea of drawing just a face on full page baffled them. So, I drew a circular outline of their face as a guide and they took off from there.
Next challenge was to draw facial features in right places, that too proportionately and symmetrically.
A lot of observations and discussions happened when looking at themselves closely in the mirror.
"My eyes are not circle, they are tear drop shaped!" - Sid.
"I would like my eyes to be blue but they are black."- Nidhi.
"Everyone's nose is different! I have 2 holes on my nose and some hair in it. See, I have drawn that", - Nidhi
"Mom, you nose is like a spanner. Mine is like L shape." - Sid.
"Everyone's lips are red in color." - Nidhi
"Sid, if you cannot look in the mirror and draw, you can look at me and draw." - Nidhi
"I cannot do that! I don't look like you.I look different." - Sid.
They had so much fun that they insisted me to join their fun. So I tried my hand at sketching myself. Strangely, it was therapeutic to look closely at yourself and draw your own features. If you haven't tried it before, I recommend you to try it. It is fun!
Next they colored their portraits. They chose the medium they liked. Nidhi chose color pencils and Sid chose oil pastels. Nidhi colored my sketch too. They added their own creative touches.
Nidhi added long braids for herself and me. She then exclaimed, "Look Mom, now you look just me!"
"I am in an airplane.I am wearing headphones and listening to music. See the little music notes?" - Sid.
I loved how he added a little window with a flying bird to show that he is flying in an airplane.
The twins noted how everyone is unique with differences in shapes of facial features and skin colors. Nidhi wondered, "Why do we have skin?". "What do you think?". "I think, if we don't have skin all our blood will come out."
They had so much fun with this little exercise that they are ready to churn out more portraits everyday. This morning they spent a little more time in front of the mirror observing themselves very closely before starting for school.
I started noticing that their more recent drawings and paintings are featuring themselves. One day I observed that almost all of their little characters had only one eye and a mouth. (The nose has always been missing in their drawings.) I enquired, "Why have you drawn only one eye?". Sid excitedly replied, "Because I am looking to the side, mom. See, when you look to the side I can see only one eye of yours."
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| Sid and Nidhi riding a bike |
I was impressed with their observation. Considering their interest in drawing, that too in drawing themselves, I set up an activity to do self portraits.
The twins were very excited to draw themselves. I showed them examples of other kindergarteners' self portraits on internet.
I explained to them that they must observe their facial features very closely on the mirror and try to draw them. They readily accepted it as a challenge.
The very first hurdle they faced was the size of the drawing. They are so used to drawing miniature figures that the idea of drawing just a face on full page baffled them. So, I drew a circular outline of their face as a guide and they took off from there.
Next challenge was to draw facial features in right places, that too proportionately and symmetrically.
A lot of observations and discussions happened when looking at themselves closely in the mirror.
"My eyes are not circle, they are tear drop shaped!" - Sid.
"I would like my eyes to be blue but they are black."- Nidhi.
"Everyone's nose is different! I have 2 holes on my nose and some hair in it. See, I have drawn that", - Nidhi
"Mom, you nose is like a spanner. Mine is like L shape." - Sid.
"Everyone's lips are red in color." - Nidhi
"Sid, if you cannot look in the mirror and draw, you can look at me and draw." - Nidhi
"I cannot do that! I don't look like you.I look different." - Sid.
 |
| Sid's self portrait - pencil sketch |
They had so much fun that they insisted me to join their fun. So I tried my hand at sketching myself. Strangely, it was therapeutic to look closely at yourself and draw your own features. If you haven't tried it before, I recommend you to try it. It is fun!
 |
| My Self Portrait - Pencil sketch |
Next they colored their portraits. They chose the medium they liked. Nidhi chose color pencils and Sid chose oil pastels. Nidhi colored my sketch too. They added their own creative touches.
Nidhi added long braids for herself and me. She then exclaimed, "Look Mom, now you look just me!"
 |
| Nidhi's self Portrait |
 |
| My Portrait colored by Nidhi |
"I am in an airplane.I am wearing headphones and listening to music. See the little music notes?" - Sid.
I loved how he added a little window with a flying bird to show that he is flying in an airplane.
 |
| Sid's self portrait |
The twins noted how everyone is unique with differences in shapes of facial features and skin colors. Nidhi wondered, "Why do we have skin?". "What do you think?". "I think, if we don't have skin all our blood will come out."
They had so much fun with this little exercise that they are ready to churn out more portraits everyday. This morning they spent a little more time in front of the mirror observing themselves very closely before starting for school.
