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Is this exceptionally talented for a 9YO?

168 replies

Fifi00 · 21/12/2022 16:58

DD has been saying she wants to be an artist for quite a while. I'm not naturally artistic myself so can't really teach her myself nor do I really know what makes good art. Everything she does has been self taught. Is this talented for a 9YO? How could I encourage her?

Is this exceptionally talented for a 9YO?
OP posts:
catsonahottinroof · 21/12/2022 18:49

I also think it's better than most GCSE artwork. It's not the same as a 9 year old being able to read a book for 14 year olds - lots can do that but I think this sort of talent is very rare.

Aquasulis · 21/12/2022 18:51

FestiveAF · 21/12/2022 17:07

My 9 year old is at stick man level so I would say that is wonderful!

This - maybe ask the art department in your local secondary school for advice?

Glassofwhatever · 21/12/2022 18:52

That's extraordinary

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HimiJendrix · 21/12/2022 18:54

That is brilliant. A massive talent I would say. It's hard to believe that your DD is just 9.

Passthechocolatesplease · 21/12/2022 18:57

Excellent, you daughter obviously has an artistic eye, our Waterstones book shop has art classes for children, it may be worth checking in your area.

Cherryblossoms85 · 21/12/2022 19:02

You're very lucky she has found a rewarding hobby she is good at! She will definitely be able to make good pocket money from portraits one day but it's almost impossible to make it a career, in general.

NormalNans · 21/12/2022 19:02

Not just for a 9 year old but incredibly talented for any age!

Leafytrees · 21/12/2022 19:04

That's incredible. Well done to her. What a talent!

CoteDivoire · 21/12/2022 19:05

This is brilliant. My DD just turned 10 and can't draw anything close to that

WyfOfBathe · 21/12/2022 19:10

Our local secondary runs an after school art club for the best few year 5/6s from the feeder primaries. DD1 was given a place in year 6, and I'd say she's only just caught up to your DD now, in year 7. I don't know if this is offered in other schools, but it was excellent for DD. She got a chance to try lots of new materials and techniques that I wouldn't have been able to show her at home

Scottishgirl85 · 21/12/2022 19:11

That is an exceptional drawing, she is artistically gifted.

Scotsmum1 · 21/12/2022 19:17

Lovely to see, OP. HNRTFT but lots of good advice.

Definitely nurture her and encourage her to try as many different styles as possible. Keep it fun and light - she's still so young and needs to just play; often that's when the best ideas just come. There's a lifetime of pressure ahead.

When I was at Art college, the Principal of our city teacher training college came to give a lecture on becoming an art teacher. What blew me away was when he said that roughly 80% of all art students were on the Dyslexic spectrum.

I choose to see it as a gift in the sense that we see life through different eyes - and think differently. Mainstream education is not formatted for dyslexics (or Dyscalculics like me) so we are forced to find other ways of approaching learning, and have to find creative solutions. I can actually visualise in three dimensions which a lot of people can't, and I can generate ideas really easily. That's also why so many of us end up in engineering, architecture, music, art...

Best of luck.

ScatteredMama82 · 21/12/2022 19:17

That is really amazing! She is very talented. My son is 13 and loves art, he's very good at it too. I found a site called Domestika where you can pay for various short courses in different techniques. He's really enjoyed them, it's all videos and you can work through the modules in your own time.

Amoreena · 21/12/2022 19:19

Yes it's excellent. Really looks like the Wednesday actress

ArabellaScott · 21/12/2022 19:20

Yes, that's fab, OP. I'm a professional artist and I tutor both adults and kids; that's exceptionally good for a 9 year old.

Art materials. Decent quality. Some stores do student discounts - as she's at school, might be worth asking!

Take her to art galleries if you can. Encourage her to copy from other artworks. Draw sculptures, paintings, drawings, anything. Long looking at other artworks. Libraries should have some decent books, too.

I know this has been said, but: Encourage drawing from life - not photos! So get her to draw what she sees, whether landscape, still life, animals, people. Drawing from photos will only take you so far - drawing something that's in flux & with changing light is very very different. Far more challenging.

School may not be the best at supporting her creative growth, depends a lot on teachers. (I'm talking high school). So look at local arts venues and clubs.

As for supporting her: Don't go overboard on praise. Be curious about her work, talk about it, support it, but I would suggest mostly allowing her to develop on her own schedule. In fact when a child's gifted your problem may be protecting her from going too fast and early success, rather than from any need to encourage her. You can see she's already on her way. Just try not to impede it, and make sure she knows she is loved for herself not just her talent, if that makes sense - I'm sure you do anyway, but I think early success can be difficult to navigate. (I'm not talking 'success' in terms of fame and money, just in terms of being highly skilled early on).

Enjoy the journey, both of you!

somethingdifferenttoday · 21/12/2022 19:20

That is amazing. I doubt many adults could produce that, I certainly couldn't.

MasterBeth · 21/12/2022 19:21

Those posters urging you to “get her to” draw from still life are suggesting a quick way to murder all enthusiasm for drawing. It’s not school.

Give her opportunities, point her in the direction of ideas, tell her how good her work is, but don’t turn her talent into a burden. Let her enjoy drawing photographs, if that’s what she likes doing. She’s nine. She doesn’t need to be undertaking a degree Foundation course at nine.

MargotChateau · 21/12/2022 19:30

Professional full time artist here with a Masters degree in Fine Art, ex university life drawing/painting lecturer, and have exhibited in museums & galleries world wide.

Yes it’s very good for her age. I would encourage her to visit art galleries and look at the old masters. I started off a bit younger than her by copying old master paintings in watercolours and pencils.

Also buy ‘drawing on the right side of the brain’, it has exercises to teach you how to ‘look’, and draw from life.

Set her up with still life models to paint from, you can use a sheet or pillow case, drape it and pick things from round the house, you can keep it fun, use toys or fruit, whatever. If she wants to excel down the line and go to art school, taking the reliance away from photo realism and photographs will be important.

Buy the best materials you can afford, if you value her work, she will too and good materials make a massive difference. Cass arts you can get a members cards and they have fantastic sales.

While it took me a while to make decent money for my work, I love my job and it’s taken me from meeting royalty to traveling all over the world.

In my time teaching life drawing I’ve seen ex students, succeed in architecture, design, illustration, learning how to ‘look’ leads to pathways into so many different careers, not always necessarily fine art.

loads of museums and art galleries, both national and local have great taster day courses for children. Definitely get her into some extra classes.

starsparkle08 · 21/12/2022 19:31

Yes very talented

MargotChateau · 21/12/2022 19:33

@MasterBeth I worked from still life, much younger than her and I loved it. It’s no different to doing scales or arpeggios in music lessons and I was learning those far younger than 9 too.

you can make it fun, my mother and I created themed ones, like the Dutch old masters which alluded to other things. We made them quite funny at times. It’s the approach rather than the exercise which will make it engaging or not.

Xmasbaby11 · 21/12/2022 19:35

I agree with pp - very talented! My DD8 is very arty and loves drawing. I would say she is talented but nowhere near this level.

Sindonym · 21/12/2022 19:35

Is there an art college near you? There is one in my city and they run kids classes and workshops. That really is incredible.

Solonge · 21/12/2022 19:37

wow....just watched this series...and knew it was Wednesday immediately...your daughter is very talented. I was gifted at art....and did very well in the field....but at 9, I couldnt have produced that....help her in anyway you can...this will likely be the direction her life will go in.

Wisteriaroundthedoor · 21/12/2022 19:38

Wow, what a talented little girl. That’s really impressive.

Jem57 · 21/12/2022 19:39

FAB

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