It is on days when the children are confined to the apartment, gazing through the window to rain-soaked streets, that we parents think we can see a budding Rembrandt.
Something in those little eyes tells of a need for creativity and self expression. And so, foolishly, we reach for the paint box.
Each time we think it will be different. 'They're older now,' we tell ourselves.
But each time, before the afternoon is through, the walls, the child and the dog will all be covered in murky hues that speak only vaguely of the pristine primary colours that they once were. An upturned jar of water will have tested the absorbtion properties of an old newspaper and will be starting on the carpet beneath. Meanwhile, the paper that was to have captured the first masterpiece bears nothing more than a couple of fingerprints and some chocolate stains.
The latest software offering from MetaCreations could put an end to all that. The $580 Art Dabbler is a family painting program that doesn't smudge when the dog sticks his nose into it.
Like many other programs from MetaCreations, Art Dabbler has an icon-based interface. It is based partly on the much more sophisticated Painter program. But unlike Painter, Art Dabbler is easy for everyone to understand. The tools are kept in pinewood panel doors at the top of the screen. There is a drawer each for textures, colour palettes, stencils and an impressive range of brushes, pens, pencils, spray cans and more. Each has its own sound effect to add to the fun.