The Four Seasons: Crayola Crazy

When Hurricane Sandy knocked out the power two months ago, I found myself with an unexpected challenge: how to pass the time. It turns out that filling the hours in the dark is a lot harder than you’d think. I ended up diving into some creative projects, like painting a few Nintendo cartridge watercolors, which was actually pretty sweet. But perhaps the most ridiculous thing I tackled was a 500-piece Thomas Kinkade puzzle—in the dark. Let me tell you, separating yellow sky from yellow-orange sky by candlelight is an experience I wouldn’t recommend. Speaking of Kinkade, there’s a guy who was undeniably talented, but all his stuff feels so mundane. Then again, maybe there are people out there who think I’m marginally talented and doing nothing interesting, so who am I to talk? Either way, those powerless nights pushed me into some unexpected, if slightly absurd, creative directions. they can also be a serious tool for creative expression. I recently completed a piece called “The Four Seasons,” and it took my crayon game to a whole new level. The challenge was to capture the essence of each season using only Crayola crayons, which, believe it or not, is more complicated than it sounds. Starting with spring, I played with soft greens and pinks, layering them to create the delicate new growth of the season. Summer was all about vibrant blues and yellows, trying to capture the intensity of the sun and the endless skies. Autumn brought out deep oranges and browns, where I worked on blending colors to recreate the rich tapestry of fall leaves. Finally, winter was a study in restraint—cool blues and whites, focusing on the starkness and quiet of the season. What made this project particularly satisfying was the medium itself. Crayons might be seen as a simple tool, but in reality, they force you to be intentional and precise with every stroke. The waxy texture adds a level of depth and vibrancy that can be challenging to achieve with other mediums, and there’s something nostalgic about working with the same materials you used as a kid. “The Four Seasons” ended up being a piece that not only showcases the changing landscapes throughout the year but also demonstrates the surprising potential of Crayola crayons. It’s a reminder that creativity often thrives when you limit your tools, pushing you to explore new ways to express ideas with the simplest of materials.