No, definitely not just the math, although that clearly helps. Very strong drafting skills, and also obviously a long attention span and attention to detail and precision. Does she have amazing handwriting?
I've spent a fair bit of time thinking about what makes a child artistically talented and what artistic talent in a child is. There is an eye for good design. I saw this in preschool with DD. All the kids would do the same project--gluing precut circles on construction paper, for instance, and I would walk up to hers and admire it because it was the coolest-looking, without knowing it was hers (name on the back). There is drafting skill and patience. DD is quite good at this, but not EXTREMELY good--some kids are incredible. We also notice that she does not have nearly the ability with 3-D forms as with pencil and paper, whereas some children are more able to "make it happen" in 3 dimensions. Then there is the creative spark, which is surely the one that is the hardest (perhaps impossible) to teach. DD definitely has this, although at times I worry brecause I see her stuff being more derivative due to peer influence. But you know...time, and all that.
oh, man i'm SO behind on these again...
it's funny, i didn't realize DD5's handwriting was anything special until i had to take a hard look at it to place her in an appropriate grade for homeschool. we have to work just a little more on stamina, but it's easily acceptable for Grade 3, which is handy because we're doing 3-4 this year in all the other subjects. (hence the cursive - which she says is so! much! fun!)
the design-sense is really neat, isn't it? i've thought a lot about art, too - i'm a graphic designer, but not really artistic myself. i can sketch, but it's the problem-solving aspect of my work that appeals to me, and composition really is half the battle. does your DD take photographs, too? i always think the "eye" shows up so clearly (or not!) in the frame.
and KJP... holy, those have so much
spirit. the MOOOOOON. just... wow.
i love this thread so much. keep them coming, friends!
