Got a weakness for abstract art?
Little artists are masters at this!

Every artist is a child, Picasso is alleged to have said. We say: Every child is an artist. Once they are two to three years old, little children are very good at painting and drawing pictures using brushes and pens. They love experimenting with paints and different materials. And what they come up with is often highly respectable.

Canvas, paint, brush, artist's apron, underlayment that can be wiped down – and off you go:

• Cheap, precovered canvas is available along with the rest of the equipment from hobby shops and art shops.
• Choice of paint: Acrylic paints are ideal for slightly older children – they are very bright, do not fade, are easy to apply with a brush and are water-soluble as long as they are moist. Smaller children should experiment first with the non-toxic finger paints which are easy to wash off.
• If a work of art is particularly good, you can have it transferred to a large canvas by a print shop. This is very trendy and makes a great gift!