Art on the Ceiling

“Paintings on the ceiling?”
“Fourth graders made them?”
“How?”
“How did the children get up there?”

Tell anyone about the paintings the children created on the school’s ceiling, and the questions come pouring in. It seems almost impossible.

But it happened. Right here, in our primary school.

The children painted “Flying Cars” on the ceiling of the school hallway. The inspiration came from Michelangelo’s magnificent paintings on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. But they didn’t become little Michelangelos overnight. The first step was choosing a theme which the children had to choose for themselves. Cars were a favourite subject. Since they were painting on a ceiling, the cars had to fly! And just like that, the theme of “Flying Cars” was born. The children discussed their ideas, observed things around them, and sketched the vehicles they imagined. With every step, their ideas became clearer and more detailed.

On painting day, secure scaffolding was put in place. Every precaution was taken to help the children feel safe at a height. Still, some felt a little nervous climbing the ladder, which was only natural. With support from their teachers and encouragement from their friends, they overcame their fears. For four and a half hours, the children painted with patience and determination. The hardest part was keeping their heads tilted back while painting overhead. Working in two groups and taking turns, they completed the task. And in the process, the children created much more than paintings! They developed essential life skills, including communication, collaboration, problem-solving, creativity, and perseverance.