Kellogg kindergartners explore artistic passions

FALLS VILLAGE — Anna Pattison waited patiently as children filtered in the all-purpose room at the Lee H. Kellogg School Friday afternoon, Feb. 28.

There were three long cafeteria tables set up with acrylic paints laid out on paper plates, sets of three brushes — thin, medium and thick — and a smallish blank canvas at each place.

Eventually 13 children and five adults got their marching orders from Pattison.

The goal was to do a version of a fox in a wintry landscape.

Pattison said the template is ideal for a group activity because it can be done in just a few basic steps.

Step one was to use the teal paint to make the sky background. Depending on the artist, this took up about two-thirds of the canvas.

Background accomplished, the artists took a break for popcorn while the paint dried.

Pattison suggested waving the canvases back and forth to facilitate drying, while cautioning against getting stray bits of popcorn in the mix.

A couple of enterprising students decided that running in circles around the room, holding their canvases, would be even better.

And soon the room was filled with small children charging back and forth brandishing teal-colored canvases.