Inspired by Marc Chagall: A Playful Journey in Color

A few years ago, I visited the Picasso Museum and marveled at the journey from playful childhood doodles to bold, expressive masterpieces. It struck me that, even without formal art training, the gap between a child’s drawing and a master’s work sometimes isn’t as wide as we might think.

That idea bubbled up again during our recent Marc Chagall-inspired project. We kicked things off with soft pastels, smudged with cotton balls to recreate those airy, dreamy hues Chagall is famous for. Then, the kids got creative with oil pastels, adding their own fun twists. I showed them a few of Chagall’s paintings and asked what jumped out at them. They eagerly pointed out floating figures, magical unicorn-like creatures, and quirky circus scenes.

What warmed my heart was how Chagall’s simple, whimsical style made the kids feel like they could do it too. Hearing one of them exclaim, “I can make a painting like Marc Chagall!” was absolutely delightful.

After they wrapped up their masterpieces, I invited them to title their work. One little artist surprised me by naming his piece “Heart Jail” after filling his paper with heart-shaped doodles. When I asked what it meant, he said, “When someone gets into your heart, they can’t get out. That’s a heart jail.” It might sound a bit quirky, but I found it beautifully poetic—a playful reminder of how our feelings can both capture and charm us.