Ship with Butterfly Sails — Inspired by Salvador Dalí

Last month, our featured artist was the iconic Salvador Dalí, the Spanish Surrealist celebrated for his extraordinary technical skill, precise draftsmanship, and dreamlike imagery. Through books, discussions, and creative invitations, we’ve been exploring his world, introducing children to the magic and imagination that define surrealism.

Today, the children engaged with one of Dalí’s enchanting pieces — “Ship with Butterfly Sails” (1937). This surreal masterpiece beautifully merges the strength and stability of a ship with the delicate beauty of butterflies. Painted during a time of great change and unrest in Spain, it reflects themes of transformation, freedom, and fragility. The ship represents a steady journey, while the butterfly sails symbolize lightness, hope, and the power of change. Together, these elements remind us that art can blend reality with imagination, inviting us — and our young learners — to see ordinary things in extraordinary ways.

To bring this artwork to life, we invited the children to paint a ship made out of recycled boxes. They painted the ship in rich shades of brown tempera paint, while also creating vibrant butterflies to merge with their creations — blending the real with the fantastical, just as Dalí did.

Exposing children to diverse artists and styles expands their understanding of what art can be. When children see that creativity takes many forms — from realism to surrealism — they learn there is no single “right” way to make art.

Art experiences like this nurture not only imagination but also vital developmental skills. Through projects inspired by great artists, children learn to:

• Express themselves creatively — experimenting with colors, shapes, and materialsThink critically — reflecting on their work and the choices they make

• See the world from new perspectives — finding inspiration in unexpected places

• Build language and storytelling skills — describing their ideas and creations

  

Art is a cornerstone of early childhood education. Each experience — whether painting a butterfly or imagining a ship made of dreams — gives children the confidence to explore, experiment, and engage with the world in wonderfully creative ways. By introducing children to artists like Dalí, we not only inspire creativity but also teach them that imagination knows no bounds. Every brushstroke, every whimsical idea, and every joyful exploration helps shape young minds capable of seeing the world not just as it is, but as it could be.