03/23/2025
WHY YOU’D WISH FOR YOUR CHILD TO COMPREHEND THE ESSENCE OF ART: GIFTING THEM A DISCERNING EYE.
If you have no intention of guiding your child toward becoming a painter, merely enrolling them in art classes is both excessive and insufficient. What is truly valuable for a life well-lived is not the hands of an artist, but rather the keen eye of a collector.
I began my journey with watercolors in the third grade, followed by oil pastels in the sixth, and later, I delved into oil painting, woodcut printing, and lithography in the ninth. Simultaneously, I was gradually exposed to an array of masterpieces by celebrated artists spanning diverse eras. I learned to critically analyze the merits, aesthetic beauty, and profound meaning within these works. I explored the various schools of painting intertwined with the trajectory of global art history, immersing myself in the origins and underlying causes of art movements—from the Renaissance to Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and beyond. This cultivated an understanding of what distinguishes a painting as sublime or lackluster. While my family did not steer me toward an artistic career, I was nonetheless deeply embedded in the artistic realm, even as I excelled in physics, securing victories in city competitions and preparing for entrance exams at prestigious schools. This subtle yet profound exposure would later prove invaluable in my journey as an architect. What I had been given was not merely the technical skill of an artist, but the discerning eye of a critic—an eye that intuitively perceives beauty and imperfection, much like a breath.
Fostering an appreciation for art and cultivating a refined aesthetic taste must commence early. Once this sensibility takes root, it will serve as an immeasurable asset in myriad facets of life as they mature:
• It confers a distinct advantage in the realms of hospitality—whether in restaurants, hotels, or cafes—where the language of “vision” holds paramount importance due to an innate sense of aesthetic refinement.
• It nurtures a robust, unwavering sense of personal style, safeguarding one from the fleeting whims of trend, thus ensuring that money is invested judiciously, in things that truly matter. Children will develop an acute ability to appraise fine objects and experiences, such as real estate, interiors, artworks, and luxury goods. They will learn to spend wisely and purposefully when curating collections in these areas, discerning timeless beauty that appreciates in value.
• It provides an unparalleled edge when selecting or designing homes, encouraging a thoughtful expenditure of resources and a consistent appreciation for enduring aesthetics that transcend transient fashions.
• It fosters an intuitive grasp of personal fashion and the articulation of individuality.
• It offers a distinct advantage in the selective acquisition or sale of valuable items such as real estate, furniture, fashion, gifts, and collectibles.
Many accomplished individuals I know—who excel in fields seemingly distant from art—possess a strikingly sophisticated aesthetic sensibility, which has significantly contributed to their success. These include figures of influence in the digital sphere, media magnates, event coordinators, founders of restaurant, hotel, and cafe chains, entrepreneurs behind major conglomerates, as well as award-winning chefs, pastry chefs, jewelry purveyors, and owners of interior design firms.
A broad and cultivated aesthetic consciousness equips children with the ability to discern what is truly valuable from the ephemeral, enabling them to distinguish between what will stand the test of time and what is merely fashionable for the moment.
THE QUESTION THEN ARISES: HOW CAN WE CULTIVATE THIS AESTHETIC SENSIBILITY IN OUR CHILDREN?
I propose the following path:
1. Introduce Art at an Early Age:
The sooner, the better. By the age of 8, introduce your child to the essential materials of artistic creation: crayons, colored pencils, watercolors, oil pastels, and markers. Allow them to experiment with these tools across a variety of paper sizes. The adage “The size of the paper should correspond to the size of the child” holds true. If they develop an affinity for the practice, encourage them to work on larger sheets—perhaps even as grand as A0-sized canvases. If their interest wanes, there is no harm in this. This stage is not about pushing them toward artistic perfection, but about nurturing an openness to creativity.
Explore traditional Vietnamese art, such as Đông Hồ prints, Hàng Trống, and Kim Hoàng prints—these offer an engaging entry point to both the beauty and cultural depth of the region.
Between ages 8 and 10, allow for further immersion in watercolor techniques. Teach them about the color wheel and how the blending of two primary colors can yield infinite possibilities.
From age 11 onwards, expose them to the works of iconic artists across various periods in art history. Introduce them gradually to the pivotal figures of each artistic movement. The more works they encounter, the more naturally they will begin to differentiate between genuine masterpieces and those that merely mimic them. Some of the artists whose works I would recommend include:
• Henri Rousseau
• Vincent van Gogh
• Paul Gauguin
• Claude Monet
• Isaac Levitan
• Joan Miró
• Trần Văn Cẩn / Tô Ngọc Vân
Additionally, consider introducing them to concise histories of art or modern art in general. The more knowledge they gain, the more enriched their understanding of aesthetic principles will become.
During this phase, there may still be time for exploration of other artistic mediums—such as oil pastels, oil paints, woodblock prints, and silk painting. Should they show a keen interest, these are avenues worth pursuing.
2. For Adolescents (13 and Beyond), Deepen Their Engagement:
At around age 13, your child can begin exploring the works of masters whose styles may require a more sophisticated understanding. For example:
• Pablo Picasso, particularly his early works, such as Science and Charity and The Blind Man’s Meal. These pieces, far removed from the popular conception of Picasso’s later abstract work, will reveal the rigorous discipline he underwent as an artist. Understanding his early efforts underscores the importance of technical mastery before venturing into abstraction.
Other artists worth exploring include:
• Mai Trung Thứ
• Salvador Dalí
• Gustav Klimt
• Michelangelo (or Renaissance artists more generally)
• Leonardo da Vinci
Introduce them to works in other formats, such as lithographs, and art forms that employ unexpected materials like shells, egg shells, corks, and wool. Though lacquer painting may be labor-intensive, the exposure to its cultural significance alone will provide invaluable insight.
In addition, introduce your child to the realm of architecture, with its unique capacity to shape human experience. Architects such as:
• Zaha Hadid
• Frank Gehry
• Frank Lloyd Wright
• Kengo Kuma
• Sou Fujimoto
• Renzo Piano
• Álvaro Siza
• Santiago Calatrava
• Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Their work, distinguished by innovation in material and form, will inspire awe in your child, nurturing an understanding of architecture as an art form in its own right.
3. Photography as an Art Form:
By the age of 16, introduce photography as a mode of visual expression. Guide them toward fine art photography, and engage in thoughtful discussions about the significance of each image. If their interest deepens, gift them a professional camera—an instrument through which they can channel their creative vision and develop their aesthetic sensibilities.
4. Cultivate an Aesthetic Living Environment:
If you cannot afford a luxurious home, ensure that your child’s personal space is neat, airy, and illuminated by natural light. A room imbued with light and clarity will exert a subtle yet profound influence over time.
If possible, redesign their space with an eye toward aesthetic refinement. Avoid conventional pink rooms for girls or the typical blue rooms for boys. Instead, consider sophisticated color schemes, such as pastel ombré, sage green, or the rustic simplicity of wabi-sabi for girls; or monochrome, pop art, or industrial themes for boys.
5. Travel and Exposure to Beautiful Spaces:
Whenever possible, choose accommodations that offer aesthetic value—preferably charming, well-maintained hotels that provide enriching experiences for the family.
6. Museum and Exhibition Visits:
Expose your child to various museums and art exhibitions, where they can gain firsthand experience of the masterpieces they have studied.
Beware of Artworks That May Not Be Suitable for Children:
• Works that are excessively macabre or supernatural in nature (they may be disturbing or inappropriate for younger viewers).
• Art that disguises vulgarity as artistic expression, with weak technique or poor composition.
• Abstract works that, without a solid foundation in art history, may prove difficult for a child to comprehend.
• Works where technical skill, such as light and shadow, is absent, and the artist prioritizes texture over form.
Finally, remember that the greatest artists—some of whom lived in poverty or made extraordinary sacrifices, like cutting off their own ears—shared one essential trait: an unwavering commitment to their craft. Similarly, the architects mentioned above, with their diverse backgrounds and individual journeys, are united by their dedication, brilliance, and hard work. Understanding their ethos—seeing how their work ethic translates into their masterpieces—will give your child a deeper appreciation of the value inherent in art.
In identifying masterpieces—whether during an artist’s lifetime or beyond—look to their commitment, passion, and perseverance. If these qualities are present, the value of their work will only grow with time.
Source: Nguyen Minh Thuy
Photo: ChoiChoi’s trip at Leonardo Da Vinci museum
