Or the opposite--refusing to do it because it isn't perfect. I have one son who does it until it's perfect and another who gets frustrated if it isn't perfect the first time.
Actually, in art projects, even my "do it until it's perfect" kid throws a fit and quits if he makes a mistake. This is always exacerbated by hunger.
(Note to self: don't do art projects right before lunch...)
:p
We had a similar problem (perfection paralysis) with Harpo and art; when he was 3, he'd stroke boxes of crayons and finger pads of paper, sigh deeply, get a bit teary, and walk away. Nothing we said or did helped him to be willing to try something he so clearly wanted to do, until we showed him a whole bunch of art books--he spent ages on a couple books I have about the Abstract Expressionists, and then he just went to town! He's been a drawing machine ever since--feeling freed from the restraints of representational art really opened the floodgates for him.
Maybe something to try?
peace
minnie
