Description the author begins with a lovely discussion about how children experience the world of color she goes on to offer some thoughts on what she calls “the morality of color.” I find that this section inspires me to become more imaginative when I work with colors – it really brings them to life in a very unique way there is a long section, filled with color photographs of both children painting and the paintings they produced, that takes us into the world of children painting with watercolors. This can become a welcome guide for parents who have never done this before – it should help everyone to paint joyfully then, there are clear instructions for mixing the paints, preparing the paper, distributing the water jars, paint pots and brushes ah! and then comes the painting! and the color stories! and the sheer wonder of it all! the author adds suggestions for seasonal painting themes, how to create the stories and what their basis is, the experience of color and the moods of nature finally, there are even instructions for preparing plant pigments for painting and photos showing the soft, inviting colors they produce There is so much joy to be had here – I’ve waited for years hoping for this book to reappear. What a treasure! When we paint with colors we should paint in such a way that we are conscious that we are calling forth life from what is dead. — Rudolf Steiner A vital factor in a child’s development is the stimulation of active imagination and creativity. Here are ideas for encouraging self-expression through watercolor painting. Essentially practical, this book is based on Goethe’s color theory and shows that painting with children is more than just a form of self-expression. Müller encourages and attempts to understand children’s fantasies through their artwork. This guide for parents and teachers to painting with watercolors covers preparation, color-stories and poems, painting moods of nature and the seasons of the year.
