It’s been a long time since we’ve visited any PLOM family, right? Well, let’s not talk anymore because here is a new family interview, this time Pere (3 years old) and Valentina (4 years old) open the doors of their home, with the permission of their daddies Cristina and David, of course!
Valentina and Pere are two wonderful children, lovers of reading, playing and art, with great and positive values instilled in them by their parents, and they are not the only children who learn from them… because both David and Cristina are teachers! And Cristina continues to teach even outside of school through her Instagram account: @xtina_acedo (click right now on her profile and start following her!) where she gives lessons in style, decoration, interior design, crafts and other creative disciplines to her more than seven thousand followers. Anyway, read on, they’ll tell you all about it themselves!
It is easy to observe that you are teaching your children the value of handmade things, of simplicity, of nature… They have a lot of wooden toys, books and art hanging on the walls around them, do you notice in them the influence of this kind of entertainment in their ways of being?
Cris: Without a doubt! We have always opted for -few- quality toys because we believe that the greatest learning they do when they are little is in the game. We avoid toys with batteries and prefer those made of natural, simple materials that offer children the possibility to let their imagination run wild and invent games. That’s why art, books and music also play an important role at home, because they are the perfect quality stimulus to discover new worlds and realities. We believe in creativity and ingenuity as real agents of change.
How important do you think the presence of art is in someone’s life at an early age?
Cris: A lot! They develop a sensitivity that I think would otherwise be very difficult. We believe in art in its broadest meaning. Nature is pure art, music, etc.
How important was art in your education?
Cris: Well, the truth is that I was never good at painting or crafts, but I was very curious about art when we were traveling and it awoke in me a lot of aesthetic sensitivity and when I was older I really enjoyed the subject of art history; but it was not until my adulthood when I discovered my passion for illustration, design and art. I love doing DIYs and projects with Pere and Valentina.
David: I have always liked architecture, I considered it as a career option for a few years.
But I enjoy my current profession and I love creating projects with the kids that challenge them creatively.
How would you say art inspires your children? How do they react to it?
Cris: Pere, for example, loves going to museums and recognizes the styles of several of his favorite artists. Painting mandalas relaxes him a lot and he loves music and storytelling. On the other hand, he doesn’t like to draw, he loves to create and invent things, but he is very demanding with himself and feels a little frustrated when he doesn’t get the expected results… we know that it is a question of maturity and that little by little he will find his balance.
Valentina loves to create.
She loves to mold and watercolors are her favorite.
Both of them have been introduced to the world of art since they were little and have experienced it.
For example, it was super nice when, after meeting Yayoi Kusama, we had, between all of us, the idea of decorating the headboards and beds of their mountain room with “gomets” and vinyls of moles of different sizes and colors.
It was spectacular and the experience was very nice.
And in what way would you say it inspires you?
Cris: Art, music, theater, reading, etc. relaxes us, helps us to think differently and to find, sometimes, alternatives and options that we had not valued. To get out of our comfort zone and, as the English say, “thinking outside the box”.
Cristina, you are a real influencer and thousands of moms and dads come to your Instagram profile to get inspired by your decorative style, where would you say that this talent comes from?
Cris: I don’t know if it’s talent, hehe, but it’s true that I love creating spaces and I discovered, a few years ago, in decoration and design a passion that I had hidden. I have always felt a special aesthetic sensibility and decoration completes me.
Of the works in our Gallery that you have, which is everyone’s favorite? What does it convey to you?
Cris: “Otto” and “Ricardo” from Amayadeeme.
I love their delicacy.
Click HERE to meet the rest of the troop!
David: The “kiddos” of Pintachan. They are super fun and have a naughty face, just like our kids, hehe.
Valentina: her favorite is Susie Hammer, she loves the colors and her funny drawings; so she loves her “Clock dog” that we have in the play room 😉
“The kids are alright” by Blanca Gomez is Pere’s favorite, he has it on the headboard of his bed and many nights he says goodbye to each of the children in the painting by pretending they are his classmates and some of the family members😂.
You have a house decorated as if it came out of a dream. Do you believe that art is capable of transforming a space?
Cris: Ooh! Thank you! The truth is that we try to have a space for everything and that each place inspires what we want it to transmit, that is: the bedrooms we wanted them to be only spaces to relax and sleep and, therefore, all the decoration we want to inspire calm and relax; the playroom is fun and very practical and accessible for the kids, without complicated rules and easy to pick up and organize for them; the reading and “work” room is comfortable and with shared spaces ( if children see us adults reading and working, they pick up on the example and imitate us.); in the living-dining room, we decided to opt for a large sofa where everyone could share naps, movies and moments of relaxation and also an open space with carpet for…, for example, dancing! All the decoration, colors, books in each room, pictures, posters and prints try to accompany these purposes.
We have a feeling you do, but… do you believe in the Superpowers of Art, what do you think they would be?
Cris: Of course!!!! Art inspires, opens minds, softens hearts, hypnotizes, makes the hair stand on end and, in short, invites us to live.
Is there anything you would be excited to tell other art-loving kids or dads on your behalf?
Cris: That art is hope, is revolution and that our children are pure artists who we have the obligation to listen to and allow to express themselves if we want to change the world together.
