Tuesday, August 7, 2012

The Power of a Painting ? Safe, Loving Homes through the Eyes of ...

The Power of a Painting ? Safe, Loving Homes through the Eyes of Children

Deborah Olaleye ? Amara Communications Intern

The door was royally blue. Each wall beamed brightly red. The heat huffed and the smoke puffed out of the chimney. It may have been a vibrant, colorful re-imagination, but it was inspired by a real house, or better yet, a home warmed by a family.

Loving home by Samantha

Loving home by Samantha

On my first day as an intern at Amara, I came across this image hanging by a co-worker?s desk. Samantha?s painting of her home truly resonated with me.

Through a simple image, Samantha conveyed the excitement, joyfulness, and comfort that her family gave her.

My co-worker told me that Samantha?s painting was featured in an Amara Annual Report publication.

Samantha?s painting provides donors and community partners with a lasting visual of how their collaboration assists Amara in its mission to help children in our community find homes similar to the one in her painting.

My adoptive family by Grace

My adoptive family by Grace

I was intrigued by the concept of paintings and other forms of artwork, as visual stories. I looked into other past Amara publications, and I came across the image below. Isn?t it sweet?

Grace, ?the 4-year old artist, adoringly illustrates in her radiant drawing the indescribable happiness and peace that comes from having a ?forever family.?

I was touched by the artwork created by children. Their paintings do not simply show a picture of a house or a family. Instead, through their art children creatively depict the love, security, and joyfulness that having a family provides.

Amara Art Call

We are looking for children?s artwork to enrich our online and printed communications materials!

Children of all ages are encouraged to participate. We welcome drawings, paintings, poems, short stories, and collages.

All participants will automatically be entered into a raffle to win one of two $50 gift certificates to Michael?s or one of four $25 gift certificates to ? and donated by ?Tutta Bella Pizzeria.

Guidelines

  • Each form of artwork should fall under the theme ?family? or ?home.? Participants may want to answer the question: ?What do you like to do with your family??
  • Artwork must be flat.
  • Submission size should not exceed one 8.5 ?x 11 inch sheet of paper.
  • Each participant can submit up to two entries.
  • Artwork that has been created in the past and fits the theme ?family? or ?home? can be submitted as well.

Submission Guidelines

  • Before turning in artwork, please include: name, phone number, and email address of parent/legal guardian; and the name and age of the artist.
  • Please email or mail in submissions by Monday, September 3, 2012 to: Amara, Art Submissions, 3300 East Union Street, Seattle, WA 98122 or at?laura@amaraparenting.org

Additional Details

  • Artwork may be featured in online and printed materials, including but not limited to e-newsletters, invitations, blog posts, Facebook page, and in Amara?s lobby. If your submission is selected for publication, you will be contacted first and children will be credited by first name and age only; their last names will never be disclosed.

?Thank you!

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