Oh Mo.

I just heard Mo Willems on NPR talking about why adults don't draw. Is it sad that I cant seem to get enough of him? I suppose not, he is such a success because of that reason. Well.. not because I personally can't get enough of him. It seems that most are in agreement with me.

Who wouldn't be?

As an art teacher, trying to encourage kids to draw all the time I really understood what he was saying. As soon as my students realize that art could never be their profession, that they aren't going to be the next DaVinci, they switch off. They stop trying. And from then on all they ever say is - I can't draw - Let me tell you how hard it is to break them of this awful word. Can't. I am sure every art teacher out there can sympathize. I try very hard to get each of my students to believe that when they are in my classroom they are an artist. Of course in an ideal situation they would all believe me. Until then I show them Basquiat and hope that one of them realizes that art is what you make of it.

To listen to Mo on NPR go here!

And because this is an illustration blog, here is some student work I am very proud of. And this was from a 4th grader who loved saying can't until I told him to stop worrying and just take it slow.