We All Had To Start Somewhere!

One question I get asked quite often is if I have always been an artist or did I go to school to learn it. The truth is that I have always had a talent for putting what is inside my head down on paper but I have, in fact gone to art school as well. Art school was fine. I'm not knocking anyone who has chosen that path because I went myself; but really I'm sure I could have saved my parents the money! Although I walked away with some new, valuable art and design techniques the basics were something that I already knew. I was just born with it. What can I say? Some are good with numbers and some of us just relate well to this world in a visual way.

I distinctly remember three things that drove me nuts in kindergarten. One was that they would only let us paint with one color each week so that we could learn our colors! This was soooo aggravating for me! ONE COLOR?!?!? I already knew my colors! Let's get on with it people! Two was that one of my teachers tried to "help" me with a Christmas picture once by holding my hand and helping guide it while I painted! Can you imagine? I still feel a little bubble of anger rise up thinking about that. Let go, woman! How can I learn if you do it for me?! Talk about caging up artistic freedom! And the third one seems totally unfair of me now, but in a five-year-old mind made perfect sense. WHY IS EVERYONE DRAWING PEOPLE AS STICKS?? I couldn't figure this one out for the life of me! I never drew stick people! Ever!

Recently I pulled out an old box I have that contains stuff from my childhood. I'm sure every girl has one! A memory box or hope chest. A place to store all our little trinkets and diaries that were oh, so secretive! Well, I stored a lot of old artwork and crafts in mine! Arts and crafts were a regular activity in my house growing up. My mom kept a craft box full of all sorts of nifty things that we could apply to our latest project. Raining outside? No need to turn on the TV! Pull out the craft box and see what we can make today! Although they're too young still for a craft box this is one tradition that I will definitely be passing down to my kids!

It's still a little early to know if I've passed on the creative gene to either of my children. Only time will tell! I do believe though that it is something that you are, indeed born with. I don't know. Here's some of my earliest artwork. You be the judge!

Kindergarten picture (I won't tell you the year!)

Pages from my grade one journal. Note the banana seat bike!

This one is especially funny since I live in Canada. Must have been a cold weather parrot!

One of my favorite rainy day crafts. Two-Sided girl. Flat Stanley's sister?
A collection of various projects from elementary school. Nice mustache there!

Trendy Peas Wall Art

People are leaning towards more modern, contemporary designs for children's rooms lately in the hopes to give their children rooms with endurance. Decor that will last past the toddler years and hopefully into the tween years and beyond.

At Bouncing Off The Walls we've recently added some collections of beautiful, modern wall canvases by Trendy Peas that are sure to go the distance in any child's room.

Trendy Peas was founded in an effort to bring unique contemporary style at an affordable price. The founders of Trendy Peas started their journey when looking for contemporary pieces to decorate their own baby's nurseries. They found that it was hard to find contemporary items at an affordable price. After a lot of searching, the moms to be decided to do it themselves. Trendy Peas offers collections of paintings that are designed to please both the parents and the little ones!

With five collections to choose from there is something for everyone!

The Olivia Collection

The Shapes Collection

Come visit us to see the rest of these wonderful collections!
Bouncing Off The Walls - Trendy Peas