This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009 at 11:29 pm and is filed under RedSparks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Genius [jeen•yuh•s]-noun: The act of displaying unparalleled levels of intelligence by posting a giveaway for product from one’s business during the exact week when absolutely no one will see it.
Not a day goes by when I don’t say a little prayer begging the powers at be to prevent my daughter from becoming a successful lawyer, dentist or accountant. I want her to be an artist. In my opinion, artists shape the world we live in and define who we are as a species. They inspire us and provide nourishment for our souls. Granted, artists come in many different varieties, but one way or another they are necessary to our survival.
Until recently, I have been secretly disappointed with my daughter’s artwork. I know, she’s only four. But still. To me it just seemed like she should be farther along by now. Her Nana was an art teacher for decades, still painting professionally and her grandfather is an architect and a painter. But whenever she would come racing down the hallway and thrust her latest work into my hands proudly, waiting intently for my reaction, I would gaze at the dilapidated piece of construction paper covered in Elmer’s Glue, googly eyes and some dog eared purple feather she had found, there was little I could do to conceal my disdain for the work.
Then, yesterday, my whole world changed. As I walked into the kitchen she led me to the laundry room and showed me this.
Look at it! It’s fantastic! Proof, my friends, that there is true brilliance in her after all. After asking my wife “did she really do this?” about 14 times, I snatched the paper off the pantry door where she had taped it and began to dissect it. In addition to the perfect proportion, realism and color-sense she displays, something else…something HUGE…caught my eye. The smile. Look at how its drawn. Teetering perfectly on the edge of whimsical and solemn, the grin almost gives you the feeling that her subject knows something we don’t. As if it has it’s own little secret. I know you are all thinking exactly what I was thinking.
Yes. We know where we have seen that smile before.
You see, my daughter doesn’t even know who da Vinci IS yet. She managed to recreate at four what it took that man a lifetime to arrive at. Clearly, she is gifted and I can sleep at night.
In celebration of this new discovery, I have decided to run a little contest. Its been a while since I’ve given away something from RedSparks, our online baby store, so I think I’ll give it another shot.
Here’s the way its gonna go down:
First, the easy way. Just drop a comment here about anything you like by Friday, July 31, and you’ll be entered into a random drawing to win a $25.00 Gift Certificate to RedSparks.
Secondly, the Grand Prize. Below, I have included my daughter’s piece into some of my favorite works of art (personally, I think it improves all of them). In your comment, if you’re so inclined, provide the name AND the artist of the five original works shown. If you’re the first to do so, I’ll send you this cool Sweetleaf Reed Diffuser (perfect for nurseries and kid’s rooms) absolutely FREE!
That all you have to do. Pretty darn easy, right? Best of luck. Note: Images below are just thumbnails. Click each one for a larger pic!
Thanks for playing!
-Matt
July 24th, 2009 at 2:36 am
Not a chance I would know that art. Obviously I don’t know you very well either, Matt. Who knew you are such a philosopher? You are, of course, aware that there are different kinds of intelligences-?
Barbara´s last blog ..Feeding is fine motor control.
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July 24th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
1. Magritte’s Son of Man
2. Dali’s The Persistence of Memory
3. Wyeth’s Christina’s World
4. Michaelangelo’s Creation of Adam
5. Hopper’s Nighthawks
I’m new to your blog- and am now going to go peruse the RedSparks site!!
Eternal Lizdom´s last blog ..Young Adult Literature
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Matt Reply:
July 24th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Impressive, to say the least! Congrats, you’ve won the diffuser. I’ll email you for your info so I can send it out. Hope you enjoy it, and its great to have you. Thanks for stopping by!
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July 24th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
I have to apologoze for missing this post; I can explain it away by having too much work, which is true, but I am sad that I missed the chance to win the diffuser. : )
She is no doubt a genius; and I had to laugh about your hope that Frankie not grow up to be a doctor, layer, etc…my friend Janet was SO thrilled when her son went and got a philosphy major becuase she didn’t want his to be a doc. Last year he told her that he was thinking about going to Law school-be careful what you wish for, ha ha ha.
Kori´s last blog ..Some Scraps
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Matt Reply:
July 24th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
No problem! At least you still got entered into the gift certificate drawing!
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July 25th, 2009 at 5:33 am
Love the drawing. Certainly a very talented artist!
Ellen Christian´s last blog ..Garden update
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July 30th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
[...] I posted a contest when practically everyone I know was at Blogher. Then, after everyone got back, my server went down [...]
July 30th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
I ditto what Eternal Lizdom said above. She seems pretty smart.
McMommy´s last blog ..The Worst Thing I’ve Ever Heard.
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July 30th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
She’s clearly a very talented little girl. My two year old still refuses to color on his own- he demands the crayons and paper out of the closet then sits and cries until I draw him pictures or color in his books for him. We’re working on it.
Off to browse your site.
Carrie´s last blog ..So, someone finally asked
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July 30th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
McMommy sent me to your page. Love your daughter’s drawing.
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July 30th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Always great to see a budding artist…my oldest Dive is starting to spread her wings in that direction as well!
Dad of Divas´s last blog ..Jelli Bee Baby – Great Products You Should Check Out!
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August 6th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
[...] I almost forgot! My contest! Eternal Lizdom busted out some serious culture and won herself our Sweetleaf Reed Diffuser, and Ye [...]