Stone Soup

Where young artists paint the world with words

The international magazine of stories, poems, and art by young writers and artists. Published continuously since 1973.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Stay updated with our latest stories, poems, and news delivered to your inbox.

Bad Things

Bad Things
Anonymous from Syria

A drawing of “bad things” by a Syrian refugee child in the Free Syria School. The class was taught by David Gross. The exercise involved quick drawings, of 2 minutes each, in three parts.The first step was a pencil drawing. The student drew a symbolic border, then added elements that were “bad things.” Next, the bad things were colored, to give them “life.” David led the students through a fast, yogic stretching movement to add the physical experience of openness. Finally, the student painted over the bad with “good things,” in bright colors, giving the experience of replacing the bad with the good. The students told him that they loved the experience, especially the stretching exercise!