Secret art

In the last couple of years, Amy has started to be a little secretive about her artwork, mostly just not wanting to share things before they were finished. But lately she seems to not want to share her art with us at all. I can't really understand why – if I ask, she says it's because I'd just tell her it was good whether it really was or not. I've tried to assure her that if she wants total honesty, I'd be glad to give it to her, but yes I do think she's an amazing artist.

So I'm a little sorry to say I've resorted to snooping a little bit (I'm sorry, Amy!!!). One day when she was at school, I took photos of a bunch of her artwork, because I really want to save this kind of thing so she'll one day be able to look back at her work and see how crazy good she was as a kid.

This is an example from her sketchbook....

...I've tagged her stuff in our Photo system with 'artwork' and of course her name. Looking back on it, it's clear to see her progression. She IS a really good artist, and that's aside from my admitted bias. She works so hard at what she does, erasing and retrying – it's what she's most persistent about. However what hasn't come her way just yet is an art teacher who believes in her too – I really don't understand that. Maybe this will be the year? I sure hope so. And I hope she never stops drawing and expressing her creative side – it really is like therapy for her, it calms her and makes her happy.

And as I said, she's really really good at it! (For some reason, she's signing her art as "Shelbypants" - I think she's got plans for some kind of online presence under that screen name.)