Thursday Salute to Originals: Childhood Scribbles, Grown Up
It looks like the end is near… the end of summer that is. While we’re not quite into August yet, it seems signs of fall are already creeping in – slightly cooler breezes, earlier sunsets, and dreaded back-to-school specials are looming. The latter is probably the most daunting. Most of us in the office have been out of school for at least a few years now (some more than others), but we all remember heading back to the classroom with a new backpack and fresh box of crayons, and the definitive end it brought to summer fun.
Luckily, though, we stumbled upon an art series called Kiddie Arts, which has rekindled our back-to-school spirit, and our love for crayons and uninhibited young minds!
In a nostalgic stroke of genius, the Dutch artist Telmo Pieper revisited some of his favorite childhood doodles and reinterpreted them as a grown man with a modern set of crayons (aka digital editing technology).
Honoring his childhood creations, the overall silhouette of the animal or object remains unchanged. Telmo then meticulously details the body and background, turning what was once a fleeting adolescent scribble, into a stunning combination of matured presence and childlike whimsy.
But while this series is light-hearted, it has caused quite a deep discussion around the office: What could we generate from our own childhood drawings, looking at them now with fresh, wiser, older eyes? Could those strange kindergarten scribbles be translated into inspiration for a new building façade? Or could that wacky invention we envisioned as a kid actually come to life now with all the advancements in modern technology? Maybe our former, younger selves could impact and reinvigorate our current perspectives? Maybe we knew something back then that we’ve lost touch with now?
Today, we salute Telmo. Not only for validating and reinvigorating childhood creations in a newfound way, but for reminding us that our former selves can still very much influence the design sensibilities and aesthetic points-of-view we hold as established adults.
Maybe heading back to school isn’t so bad after all?
Image credits: Telmo Pieper