Dialogue by Mark:

Winslow Homer was one of the first great American artists to paint ordinary things...everyday scenes like trees blowing in the wind, waves splashing on the seashore, or hunters in the backcountry. He painted things that other artists didn't consider important enough to paint. This picture is called "Girls with Lobster," and shows another of Homer's favorite subjects...painting kids.

If you go to your library or onto the Internet and look for pictures of Winslow Homer paintings, you will discover many paintings of children, like these girls on a picnic at the beach checking out the strange shape of a lobster. Look for other examples of beautiful "ordinary" paintings...a fish on a river bottom, two ducks crashing into the water, a bush with red flowers in front of a white wall, a campfire at night.

Our art history expert, Kim at KidsArt, reminds all you young guenius artists to think like Winslow Homer! When you draw pictures, or try to think of things to paint, remember that ordinary things can be very beautiful. Look around your house or your neighborhood for things that have been unseen by anyone else, and choose them to star in your next artwork. Maybe you'll draw an electric drill, or a bowl of cereal left over after your baby sister's breakfast, or a T-shirt hanging on the clothesline. Draw and paint your ordinary scene carefully. Look at the thing while you draw it. Take your sketchpad out onto the front porch and draw your mailbox! Then color or paint your picture in the style of the great American artist, Winslow Homer.