So Your Kid Wants to Be an Artist
I get this question a couple times a month. It usually goes something like this:
A stranger wanders into my studio and tells me their daughter or son has artistic magic and that they might pursue a career in Art. Then comes the real question: What can we, as parents, do to make this happen?
I’m always flattered they ask. And I usually start with a few questions of my own:
Me: How old is your daughter/son?
Stranger: Seven, but they have the gift.
Me: Gift? Like a trust fund? Lol.
Stranger: … (awkward silence).
Me: Just kidding. So tell me about this gift.
Stranger: (scrolls forever on their phone) They’re just way ahead of their friends in drawing and painting, and they love it.
Me: (looking at the photo of a pretty good drawing) Yeah—I see something there.
At this point, I’ll usually say: The real gift here is that your kid has a loving, supportive parent. And then, because I can’t help myself, I’ll add: Just to clarify, there’s no actual trust fund, right? 🙂
But here’s the honest answer I give every time:
Teachers. Teachers. Teachers.
When I was young, I wanted to please my parents as much as the next kid. Their encouragement—and a healthy art-supply budget mattered. So did the refrigerator gallery. Every drawing stuck up there built confidence and swagger, the sense that I was doing something others couldn’t. That’s how you log the first few thousand hours of practice.
But the real turning point? Teachers. I was lucky enough to attend a huge secondary school—Lake Braddock—with five art teachers. Not every kid gets that. Arts programs have shrunk, but the teachers who remain are usually eager for the student who truly wants to learn, not just check the box for an easy A. They’ll push, they’ll challenge, and they’ll encourage entry into competitions. Those contests can open doors. Sometimes straight into college admissions and scholarships.
Here’s the truth: there’s no way to tell if a grade-schooler will grow up to be the next Picasso. Most kids create Art for the praise of their parents and friends. Finding your own artistic voice amongst the chatter of life usually won’t show up for a couple decades. If at all.
But with encouragement, tools, and strong teachers, a young artist has a shot at building the foundation they’ll need.
