‘Every child is an artist’ said Pablo Picasso.

Most parents would agree wholeheartedly, especially so if they have been ‘lucky’ to have the walls of their home decorated by their darling budding artists.

Recently I read (in one of the groups I frequent on Facebook) of a mother who has dedicated a wall in her house for her children’s artistic expressions. When it is covered fully, it is painted over and they start all over again. Not only is this an artistic outlet for the little ones, it is also a place to ‘draw’ their feelings and let it all out, sadness, anger, frustration and feel light again.

I was amazed at the mother’s ingenuity and wished I had thought up something of the kind for my children too. Unfortunately I remember expressly forbidding them to draw on walls. Not a single wall had I spared for them. You have drawing books and you can draw in them, was my strict order. But that’s all in the past and no amount of regrets will turn the clock back.

Yesterday had been celebration time at our apartment block. The residents of the block had come together to celebrate Onam, the harvest festival. There was music, dance, and games followed by sadya, the festive meal that sends us Mallus into rapture.

Afterwards as I stood talking with some of the others I noticed a little artist at work. She had a few coloured chalks in one hand, and was colouring away zealously with the other. Impressed by her work, two others joined, and between them they livened up the drab cement coloured tiles of the parking space.

Take a look:

Every child is an artist, said Pablo Picasso. He did not stop there but added, ‘The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.’ Yup, I guess that’s what we should be focusing on, how to keep alive the artist in each of us.