My daughter is a huge animal lover. And I like it that way because so am I. Having spent most of my childhood summers at my Nani’s place (Mother’s mother; I could go on and on about it) where there was a multitude of animals – goats, dogs, cats, hens, one peckish Rooster, cows, langurs and the occasional rabbit – I had seen and played with them all, and I can honestly tell you, they were some of the bestest friends I ever had. My husband too, loves animals too, but of the tamer kind. So our daughter’s love for them is nothing new to me. Onscreen or offscreen, she screeches in kiddish glee whenever she sees animals, “Awwwwww….Doggggiiiiieeeee!”, with an extra emphasis on the last syllable. It’s rather cute and is one of her best attributes.
Naturally, she loves the animated series – Shaun the Sheep (I have no qualms in admitting that I do too, and even hubby dearest sometimes sits with her and chuckles occasionally). So yesterday, she and I were whiling away the evening when it occurred to me to draw her animals and quiz her about them. While the others I wont dare to show, a lamb sketch I drew came out rather well. And on seeing it, she promptly said, “Oooo, Shaun-e fee” (She likes to prefix an ‘Ooo’ everytime she identifies an object and, though she calls a sheep, a Ship, I don’t know why she insists on calling the series -‘Shaun-e fee’. Kids!)
Since the sketch came out rather well, I thought I’ll put color to it too. And this was the result –

The Inquisitive Lamb
I should have taken a picture of the sketch too. It looked funnier than the painting, but oh, well!
This was done with poster colors (surprise!) and later outlined with black ink, and aquarelle pencils. Now the deal with poster colors is, I hate them. Absoultely! They are the one reason that put me off coloring through the greater part of my education at school. I don’t know why, because our Art Instructor used to paint rather well with them, but I always thought that poster colors lacked a certain something, unlike other mediums. To me they appear very…. can’t find a better word than ‘flat’. As if the pigment in them has no life of its own, unlike in watercolors and oils. But in school, we were always encouraged to first learn how to use poster colors with ‘tiny’ brushes (another reason that put me off coloring). I gave up on painting because the results were always unappealing to my eye.
Yesterday I found a neglected set of poster colors I had bought some time back to initiate my daughter into painting. And I thought, ‘Might as well use this for practice’. But I was very, very surprised! Goes to show that the real skill lies in the hand of the artist, not just in the tools you use.
I call this sketch – The Inquisitive Lamb – because he looks, well, inquisitive, curious, as if he has just come to realise something.
When I showed the above to my daughter, she was puzzled by it for sometime, and then gave me a sheep-ish smile, finally giving her verdict, “Oooo, ita ship!” (Ooo, its a sheep). I looked at her in mild annoyance, “It’s Shaun the sheep. Don’t you recognize him? You recognized the sketch just fine!” She looked at the illustration again, and nodded her head, affirming her previous statement, “Ita ship… Baa baa bwak ship…” and she skipped away singing the rhyme.
I looked back at the illustration. Of course! Shaun the Sheep is snow white, while my lamb is grey. Indeed more like Baa Baa Black Sheep!
Kids are a constant source of reality check. What an evening of revelations! Lessons well earned and hopefully learned too.
I’d love to know what you thought of this sketch, what techniques you use, mediums, and if you have any suggestions for me, let me know. I’m game for improvement 🙂
Have a Great Monday!! XOXOXO
©Pradita Kapahi, 2017.
I love it! Your sheep is adorable! I like the colors you chose. xoxo Ash
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks a lot, darling! 🤗😊💓
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice pic
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks 😊
LikeLike
Didn’t know you are a mom
LikeLiked by 2 people
That I am 😀😀😀
LikeLike
Finally found you on FB 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😉 I replied to you.
LikeLike
You sheep looks so cute😍. Spending time with kids on activities of their choice is great way to enrich the parent and child bond. Great job Pradita 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks a lot. I try to do things that both teach her and ley her have fun. Sometimes it works, sometimes it’s pretty frustrating. But mostly we both learn a thing or two 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s what makes parenting so challenging! But keep investing time with her. You will reap rich dividends in terms of all round development of your daughter. Love to both of you 😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope so too. Thank you for your warm words. Love to you too 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amazing! You’re very talented 🙂 ♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks a lot 😊 😊 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations on being a great mom! The whole post was again like watching you and your little princess have this baa baa bwak ship conversation, probably because all the stories you tell have perfectionized your narration style!
The sheep is cute and indeed looks very inquisitive! 😄
Your should really paint more!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks a lot dahling! Made my day 😁 😁 😁 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
nice one
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your drawing is brilliant! The expression is wonderful. I wish I had seen the sketch.
I love the way you describe your moments with your daughter. I love children and it is refreshing to read about such lovely moments. This post made me smile. Thanks. Cheers.
LikeLike
Wow sheep is so adorable😊 really enjoyed reading this 😊😀😁😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. Glad you did 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
U are always welcome dear😆😊😀😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know that, chum 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hats off to your intuitions😯😆😁😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁😁😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Keep smiling😀😊😆😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
You too mate 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Surely 😀😁😊😆
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooo Ship looks cute and your daughter is very cute pradita. Take care
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks a lot 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
And about the painting tips I will tell you once I start learning. So far I had attended only two classes and I understood it’s not gonna be easy for me and that’s what I like about it too. Will mail it to you once I get proper training
LikeLike
Well, seems like your baby is going to be quite an artist, given the time to follow up on her interest. And yes, sometimes we don’t notice the smallest things that they do. Sharp eyes! 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ohhhhhhh yes. She’s since taken a very keen interest in colours and paints and I’m going to post some of her work soon. I’m a proud momma 😁😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
As you should be. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person