Tuesday September 05, 2006

Why OSS communites are...

like letting a 4 1/2 year paint the way she wants to.

First she chooses 6 poster paint colors. Then I squirt out some of each color into the painting plate which has 6 little "scoops" to hold paint. I lay out a big piece of paper on the kitchen floor - large area with hardwood floor - for easy cleanup. She gets out brushes and sponges. I fill up the water container.

Then she starts painting whatever she wants to paint. Usually a spiral emerges in one place. Maybe some dots or a face or a rainbow. Glitter paint gets used to make circles, squares, or triangles. She usually works away quite happily, humming and singing to herself, for about 30 or so minutes.

Somewhere in here she usually asks, "Can I mix colors together?"

Then she starts painting her toes. Not toe-nail polish style either - the whole toe. (Note: if you are a neat freak parent, STOP now. You won't like what comes next.) Soon all toes are painted in various colors. And most of both feet as well.

Somewhere in here I get asked, "What happens when you mix ALL the colors together?"

Then hands get painted and printed onto the paper several times in various manners. Then the arms get painted.

Somewhere in here she comes over to me and asks for help removing her painting t-shirt, which I do.

Then she proceeds to paint her belly button. Its a bit more of an effort as she has to lean over and get "all those innie parts". Since she has paint on her hands, arms, legs, and feet by this point, the brush gets a bit slippery.

Then she announces she is done and I have to "come look!" She is very proud of what she has created - both on the paper and her. I admire profusely. Then she announces she is done and its bathtime. I run a tub - twice, mind you to clear the water - and she happily scrubs herself clean still singing. All the while leaving a beautiful glitter ring in the tub.

Meanwhile, I hang up another wonderfully creative piece of art on my walls.

Good OSS communities should create an environment where everyone feels comfortable painting whatever they want. Sometimes creative, innovative projects will get created and sometimes all you get is a beautiful glitter ring. And thats ok.

[evil laugh]

( Sep 05 2006, 01:19:24 PM PDT ) Permalink