Being Maxie

Ella, Angie and Ollie signed up for a printing workshop at the National Portrait Gallery this week (a workshop for three to five year olds). Ollie made the workshop leaders feel quite inadequate with his in depth knowledge and experience of advanced printmaking techniques. Angie was just quietly determined to get in and have a go. Ella overcame any qualms she had about being the youngest participant by announcing very loudly to everyone that she she was "being Maxie" for the afternoon. This was a bit embarrassing for Ollie who then had to explain to everyone that her name was actually Ella.

The workshop was very carefully structured with talk and discovery time in the Gallery and then some hands on printing in the Gallery's "studio". It must have been an enormous relief for the workshop leaders to have so many adults on hand to help out, 'cos it could have been very hectic otherwise.

Ollie and Ella's special friend Ella R. was there too so it was great for the two Ellas to have a catch up in between art making.

Being Maxie has been very significant for Ella this week. We played "being Maxie" (with me "being Ollie") for about two hours on Friday afternoon. Maxie joins an amazing cast of characters Ella stongly identifies with at the moment..all female, all very strong and nurturing, all great artists, singers and dancers..Mary Poppins, Karen and Justine from Play School, and Maria (from Sound of Music of all things!). She doesn't seem as obsessed with Cinderella as she was a few weeks ago.