The Canvas Experience: Photos

Male, Age 11

“I feel like finger painting, and I also feel very angry.  It’s raining in my picture”.

During his stay at the shelter, during an art session He had the opportunity to finger paint session.  Initially he used a pencil to draw a flower vase. He worked on his canvas for several days adding tempera paint to his pencil drawing.  What you see is the result of his work two days before his family left the shelter...

Female, Age 13

“I want all hands to be up”.

Her family was a “safety transfer” from another.  When she arrived at her “new shelter” She was angry and sad. During the art sessions at the shelter she worked hard at making sure that the hands she painted had different skin colors. She chose the words to describe her painting very carefully.

Female, Age 14

“Everything is dark, but when we move into our new apartment, I hope that the stars will glow”.

At her first art session she painted a flower vase. Unfortunately, her brother destroyed her work.  Three days before her family left the shelter she decided to create a new one. This time she chose to use pastel colors to depict her glowing stars.

Female, Age 6

“First I painted my big house pink, but then I painted it black because my daddy is there.  The small house is the shelter, and here, everyone is smiling”. 

She was very eager to participate in the art sessions.  One of the few things she brought with her to the shelter, were her watercolors. 

Alejandro, Age 7 

“This is a picture of my family; dad is not there anymore”. 

During the closing circle of an art session, he expressed that this time he did not to paint his father with the rest of his family.  Instead, he drew a heart to represent his dad.  He worked on his canvas for several days.  Initially, the faces on the canvas were white.  On a day that he was not able to go to school with the rest of the children he changed the faces from white to gray. The day before his family was leaving the shelter for their new home, he put happy faces on them. 

Female, Age 2 

“Finger painting”.

She really enjoyed working with tempera paint for several days.