I turned my child’s artwork into a collage

Fridge doors, tv unit, table mats, wardrobe, doors. Anywhere and everywhere there’s a flat surface there’s art in my house. And while mine is confined to our walls, my five year old son's is everywhere.

And whilst I adore the splashes of colour and memories of his first forays into scribbling and drawing flags and endless cars, there’s an impracticality to having your child’s drawings all over the place. They get torn by doors being opened, bodies brushing past, they fade in the sun, crinkle and warp. But the thought of them all stuffed in a cupboard in the dark - no, that’s not where creativity belongs.

So as I opened the Pandora’s box that is currently three massive A3 folders worth (and I’ll be honest, I only kept the “best”, but when every drawing is the first time, aren't they all the best?) I decided it was time to put at least some of these masterpieces in order.

So I started going through them, pulling out some interesting marks, a rainbow, shapes and scribbles, and of course every shape and design of car imaginable. I didn’t have a plan, but I knew I could turn at least some of these treasures into a new piece of art, onto one of my own collage paintings. It would be a painting by two artists.

At first, I had the idea of a garden - a recurring theme of mine lately and my son loves nature and collecting flowers for me wherever we go - and incorporating these little drawings into the collage layers. They would be discreet, hidden, and mostly covered up. Secrets in the painting only I would see.

Then I stopped and looked, and I wanted both stories to show through. Two artist’s stories beautifully and boldly woven together. Forever imperfect, forever vibrant, just like a child’s artwork is meant to be.

Alfie's Garden, 2025

I have a few more additions I want to make, but I'm very happy with the progress so far. Do you think my son will like it? Chloe