My failed springtime project, or how I fell motion sick while window painting
16.5.2023
Translation: Veronica Bielawski
I’m through with waiting for spring. So, my kids and I have decided to simply bring spring into our home – with window pictures. Sounds simple and fun, eh? Spoiler: it really isn’t. At least not for everyone.
Dear springtime, I’m fed up. Fed up with having to look at my still-covered garden lounge in mid-May. And I definitely have no desire to test my T-shirts for their suitability in the rain.
Spring, vamoose! We’ll bring you into the house in a different way, then: by painting the windows.
At least that was the heroic plan. Anyone who’s read any of my articles will know I hate DIY projects. Keeping the concept in mind that «what you don’t like to do, you can’t do well», I tend to stick to foolproof DIY projects only with my daughters. But apparently even these sometimes exceed my abilities.
Guidebooks
CHF17.–
Vorlagenmappe Fensterdeko mit dem Kreidemarker - Frühling & Sommer
German, Olya Kamieshkova, 2023
The prep: cut and glue
But the will is there – for now – as I stock up on material for our window drawings. And how motivated I am indeed. I order two sets of springtime colouring pages plus a set of colourful chalk markers. The colouring page sets each come with a white pen – but I want more colour. After all, the theme is springtime.
Source: Katja Fischer
The colouring sheets (seven per set) are large and come folded in a cardboard folder. The designs are also available online. You can print them out using the activation code provided.
I dutifully follow the instructions and first clean the window together with my four-year-old daughter. Next, we decide on a template to cut out – a rubber boot with flowers – and glue it to the window from the outside. Now all we have to do is trace over the lines to transfer the images to the window (in a jiffy, as the manufacturer promises).
Source: Katja Fischer
1st attempt: my youngest kicks us off
My four-year-old gets to use the pen first. Her first stroke already goes quite south. It’s easy enough to wipe off with a tissue. She gives it a few more tries, then throws down the pen in frustration.
First lesson learned: as suspected, she’s still too young for fine motor painting work. Freestyle it is. From now on, she paints whatever she wants and has a blast doing so.
Source: Katja Fischer
2nd attempt: mum gets motion sick
From now on, I take over tracing – and quickly realise it’s no walk in the park for me either. Because of the double glazing, the distance between the painting surface and the original is too large; the couple of centimetres between the outer and inner pane cause the image to blur and make it difficult for me to stick to the lines. Instinctively, I close one eye to hit the lines better, shooting-range style. This works quite well. But after a few minutes, I start to feel sick from looking and painting with one eye only. I still finish the painting, but the fun’s gone.
Second lesson learned: it’s easier to draw with one eye closed, but motion sickness soon sets in. With the ugly anti-climbing fence as a backdrop, the picture looks bleak anyway. To the ground floor we go!
Source: Katja Fischer
3rd attempt: my eldest saves the day
The box seat – the kitchen window on the ground floor – goes to my seven-year-old. She chooses the flower meadow and keeps our previous learnings in mind:
- Draw from left to right, so as not to smear what you’ve already drawn.
- Only use the pens from the chalk marker set; they’re thinner and therefore more accurate than the ones supplied in the kit.
- Colour in areas sparingly, because none of the pens offer particularly high coverage.
Source: Katja Fischer
For the next two hours, I hear barely a peep out of my painter. In total concentration, she works on her window picture, taking the rare break and then continuing without being asked until she’s done.
Third lesson learned: time, patience and inspiration are the recipe for success. My eldest achieved the best results by far.
Source: Katja Fischer
The upshot: no spring, no boredom
So, was this DIY stint a success? Not quite; the springtime vibes are still far away. Mind you, the window picture is cute. But a window’s still a window. In other words, you can’t simply paint away the bleakness outside with a few flowers.
So, this was a DIY fail? No, I wouldn’t say that. After all, it kept my kids happy and busy for a while. And that’s worth quite a bit in this current mucky weather.
Header image: Katja Fischer
Katja Fischer
Senior Editor
Katja.Fischer@digitecgalaxus.chMom of Anna and Elsa, aperitif expert, group fitness fanatic, aspiring dancer and gossip lover. Often a multitasker and a person who wants it all, sometimes a chocolate chef and queen of the couch.
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