Making Art Is Childs Play

A documentary about Preschool and the act of art.

Though I called this project a documentary from the start, my initial vision was essentially an elevated home video: cute kids getting messy and expressing themselves with finger paint. That changed when I spoke with the school's founder and teacher, Shauna Gross.

Through Shauna, I discovered a far more thoughtful approach to early childhood education, one that uses art and the artist's practice to help children develop a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. These children were experiencing the experimentation, success, and, perhaps most importantly, the failure that inevitably accompanies making art. They embraced it every day as though it were completely natural. As the co-founder of Make Me Creative, how could I not be captivated by an education system that embraces the values I’ve built my life on?

The messy clothes, sticky hands, and creative activities weren't simply signs of play. They reflected experiences that nurtured confidence, curiosity, and resilience, while quietly challenging parents to look beyond the paint stain on their child's brand-new H&M shirt.

That first conversation with Shauna sparked an exploration of childhood and creativity that stayed with me and ultimately led to this short documentary.

I hope you discover something in this film that inspires you.

Sincerely,

Michael

For more info on Painted Wombat visit: https://www.paintedwombat.com/about

Michael showing off his “Fuzzy” Camera