Planets Around the Moon
When my kids were little, one of my favorite things to share with them was the night sky.
No matter the season, we would go outside after dark to see what we could discover—sometimes with a specific plan in mind, sometimes simply to see what we see. It might be a bright planet shining from an almost unimaginable distance. Other nights, we searched for familiar constellations, watched the changing phases of the moon, or marveled at a conjunction of planets. Once, after much searching and a lot patience, we were even lucky enough to see a comet—with great difficulty.
The kids were fascinated by the planets and their distinct characteristics, and they quickly became favorites. When they were just two and three years old, they went trick-or-treating dressed as Saturn and Jupiter. When I think about that night, I still remember one man telling them, "Those are the best costumes I've seen all night."
We painted planets, stars, and moons together many times, and I made several solar system drawings and paintings with their names on them.
Rather than going for scientific accuracy, we left room for imagination. We combined what we learned from observing the night sky and reading with the freedom to invent. For this painting, we imagined the moon with colorful planets drifting off through a glowing celestial backdrop.
When the painting was finished, my daughter wrote Planets Around the Moon across the bottom. I framed it a few years later, and it has remained a favorite—not because of its accuracy, but because it reminds me of evenings spent exploring the sky together.
Looking at it now, I realize it isn't really a painting about planets. It's about curiosity, shared discoveries, imagination, and the joy of helping children grow and explore. This painting hangs where I see it often, and reminds me that some of the most meaningful memories can be created by stepping outside, paying attention, and sharing the experience.
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From the Journal · Drawing at Night, A Record of Attention, Unfinished Begonia