This week I’m featuring pictures of green, red, blue, and white. These are colors in What a Wonderful World, a song that brings back a special memory. Many years ago, I helped a kindergartner class with an art project related to the song. I assigned each student a color and let them paint anything they wanted. It was a “wonderful” experience!
Here’s my take on the colors from the song.
This picture shows the vibrancy of green foliage surrounding a great blue heron in Troutdale.
Here’s a picture featuring the power of red in an up close portrait of a hibiscus.
I showed the calmness of blue in this photo of two ring-necked doves in my yard.
The softness of white illuminates the road west into Prineville.
The song also mentions rainbow colors. Here’s a misty rainbow over Sahalie Falls.
The rest of the wonderful (and not so wonderful) story…
Why didn’t I give specific instructions to the kindergarten students on what to paint for that long ago project? Their teacher often gave them worksheets to color for class. If they took too long to complete them, or they colored outside the lines, they missed recess and gym class. Yes, really.
When the kids’ paintings were shown during a school assembly, I beamed with pride. What a Wonderful World played in the background. Each student grinned and held up their original work of art. I’m sad to say these paintings were one of only two free-form art projects assigned all year.
After that experience, I volunteered with students at every grade level. I especially enjoyed teaching arts and crafts to high schoolers who missed out when they were younger. Perhaps they had been students of the teacher who tried to push creativity out of young people’s lives.
Friday Flowers
