Collecting with your Children

Ann Berchtold

Ann Berchtold is the curator of the on-line gallery www.SanDiegoArtist.com which features the work of local emerging artists. Just this year she started, www.SanDiegoArtKidz.com . which is geared towards parents of art enthusiasts and it offers them event information and art resources in San Diego.

Her interest is in providing creative opportunities mainly because her own two sons are so enthusiastic about art and she saw how this has become a great dynamic in their relationship. Together they enjoy creating art, looking at art and collecting art.

Ann’s children have become a big influence on her personal collection and she passed on these tips on how to involve the children in your life in your collecting.

• Involve them in the selection process—when you are deciding between two works of art ask their opinion which one they like best.
• Ask their opinions and comments about pieces you already have in your collection.
• Expose them to Fine Art that is appealing to them. Don’t limit yourself to children’s artists. Find fine art artists where the composition of the art works appeals to young and old. Some artists that Ann recommends are: Lauren Carrera, Sergio Camin, Harrison Howard, Fred Van Ormer, Susan Schmidt. (Please note: these were the artists in the Art4Kidz exhibition which was part of the Arouse Yourself with Art event put on by SDVAN.
• Let them purchase a piece for their room.
• Have fun with the paintings you have…Play a few games with your children…one is for them to pretend they are in the painting and to describe what they are doing and what they see….another is to play “I spy” in the painting.
• Give them space to create their own masterpieces. “Create an Art Center in your Home” Save one work from each year of your own child’s art work before it gets dogearred and faded on the fridge. Conserve it carefully and even properly frame or display some favorite works
• Help them to begin their own collection of a favorite object…. marbles, candy, sports cards, stamps….even post cards. This encourages the ability to sort, maintain and display They will grow to appreciate your interest in collecting.

By exposing children early on they hopefully will grow to feel comfortable and knowledgeable about collecting art in the future.

In addition to the www.SanDiegoArtKidz.com, Ann also started a non-profit program called INSPIRE! San Diego Art Kidz. This program brings local artists into the elementary schools where they present the master artist who inspired them. They then lead the students in a project based on that master artists medium. Contact Ann Berchtold for more information about this project which is currently being implemented in the Del Mar School District.

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For more information contact info@SDVisualArts.net