Many parents I know discourage scribbling on walls with permanent Sharpie, but it’s actually a very important step in a child’s development. Just as early babbling leads to the development of language, scribbling on kitchen walls leads to the development of letter-like shapes, symbols, and artistic expression. Scribbling is deeply satisfying and beneficial for kids, engaging them emotionally, physically, and cognitively. Children like Joy can be quite intent about their scribbling, concentrating for twenty minutes or longer, especially if they are encouraged by parents or perhaps Dad is asleep and Mom is in Chesterfield. Developing the ability to sustain concentration is a great tool for life.
“Look,” Joy apparently said to herself last Tuesday, “Mom left the bag of pens on the kitchen island. That black Sharpie is just the tool I need to make my art.”
As soon as children can pick up and hold a marker of some sort—crayon, pen, pencil, or permanent SHARPIE—they take pleasure in making marks. At first, their scribbling is random and disordered. But as children practice, the marks become a bit more intentional. In fact, I have noticed that Joy’s art is reminiscent of the work of artist Melanie Matranga. Joy’s technique is to stand on tiptoes and reach as high as she can on the wall, making broad, bold strokes that manage to evoke a sense of confidence and strength—saying: THIS IS WHO I AM.
Adults can reinforce this process by showing delight in their child’s scribbles. “What a good wiggly line you made, sweetheart!” is something a thoughtful parent might say. What I said when I woke up from my nap is, “Holy f&@k! Really, Joy!? Really?”
I got out the 100-count box of magic erasers and quickly discovered that there is not enough magic in these erasers to get Sharpie off “Toasted Yellow” Behr Premium Plus interior paint. Like, the erasers did nothing at all. So for a week we had an art exhibition in the kitchen, dining room, and living room.
The paint department person at Home Depot told me that they cannot reproduce the “Toasted Yellow” and “Greywood” colors that we had mixed at Home Depot 18 months ago, but Menards was able to do it in three minutes.
If you are looking for a marker that is absolutely permanent and makes drawings that will not smudge, erase, or fade, Sharpie is the best!
If you are looking for an ultra-contemporary artist whose work includes four-feet-tall abstract murals done in black Sharpie, Joy is available.
Joy Elizabeth 