The Creative Spark with Uvi Poznansky discussion

Hi, My name is Susan Striker and I have taught art for many years to young children. I have written several books with the idea of stimulating creativity in children, and am very ANTI anything like coloring books, that discourage children, and now adults, from creating their own art. Although technically I see that I joined Goodreads in 2012, I actually have not been active until now. I will be updating my page and joining in discussions. I am very excited to see this group that shares my passion for creativity!

Susan wrote: "Hi, My name is Susan Striker and I have taught art for many years to young children. I have written several books with the idea of stimulating creativity in children, and am very ANTI anything like..."

Oh, great to see you here Susan! Sorry I have only discovered your note now :) Welcome aboard, and I totally understand your objection to coloring books, children should be inspired by their own ideas!

Susan and Uvi, I agree with both of you. When my children were young, I never bought them coloring books. Instead, I gave them blank paper with paints or some charcoal, so they could do free-form outside of perceived lines. Several of them are terrific artists, but this is applicable to all creative venues, isn't it? Writers don't stay inside the lines either.

One can't encourage creativity offering preconceived activities that have "correct" answers! In creativity, there are no "correct" answers. Only new ones!
I have just turned my Anti-Coloring Book® series into an app, because I realized that most art apps were turning out to be merely digital coloring books. Hopefully, this alternative will wake up some young minds.

Susan wrote: "One can't encourage creativity offering preconceived activities that have "correct" answers! In creativity, there are no "correct" answers. Only new ones!
I have just turned my Anti-Coloring Book® ..."

Totally agree with you Susan! Hope you spread the word, both in the book and in your app :)

This is an interesting thread. As the parent of to artists, I agree whole-heartedly. As someone who would love to be able to "art"- ART is a verb in our home- but cannot, I enjoy coloring. I use coloring books and stamping (wooden stamps to create cards) as an outlet for myself. I can doodle a little, and I seem to have a knack for creating collages. Collages isn't usually recognized as art.

So, while I agree with you from a parent/teaching stand point, I myself love coloring books.
-Carolynn

Carolynn, The difference is that you would "love to be able to make art" but seem to feel that you can't do it. The only reason is that we need to make a lot of art in order to get "good" at it. Children are happy just to make it! They will paint joyfully for an hour and then never give the finished picture a second thought. That is why I am so ANTI-Coloring Books. Coloring Books prevent us from doing our own art.
And you will now find collages are in every museum in the world.....keep pasting! Picasso made them, Braque made them. Maybe yours will wind up in museums too!