In the midst of this pandemic, we’re all looking for a little positivity and color in our lives. And a woman from Albany County is doing just that, one drawing at a time.
Laura Reinisch is a teacher in the Ravena-Selkirk School District, which is shut down amid the coronavirus. Reinisch now spends her days out of the classroom, teaching her students virtually on a computer.
“Working home on a computer as a teacher is not something any of us are used to,” said Reinisch.
It’s an unprecedented time for parents and teachers alike.
“They’re doing an awesome job. This isn’t easy for a parent or teacher or anymore,” added Reinisch.
While her days are spent at home, she and her daughter, five-year-old Nora, get outside in the sunshine. It's a moment that helps get them out of the “funk” of social isolation.
“I look forward to this every day. I know Nora does too, so we can get outside and away from the computer,” said Reinisch.
That's when Reinisch picked up some sidewalk chalk and began drawing.
“I took some art classes in college, but it was never something I followed through with,” Reinisch said.
Their first creation was created for their family during social distancing.
“Nora and I were looking for a creative way to wish my niece Lauren a happy birthday,” explained Reinisch.
From there, each day became a different idea. Their artwork focused on scenes of rain showers, sports, and superheroes.
“We got to dedicate [the superhero picture] to all the people out there doing their thing to keep us safe,” explains the mom.
She said the popularity of the posts spread, and now people look forward to the daily pictures.
“People started to really respond to it on Facebook and Instagram, saying 'oh, this is my favorite part of the day; this brings a smile to my face,” said Reinisch.
“You look at [the drawings] up close and you think ‘eh, it looks all right,’ but when you put it in a picture and you put Nora in it, you think ‘wow, that's really cool!’ ” Reinisch explained.
It's taking away the darkness of a pandemic, all through a driveway filled with color.
“I’m printing out the pictures as we go along, so some day, when Nora’s a little older, she can look back at the book and hopefully look back at this time as a time where it's a positive where we got to spend some special moments together," Reinisch said.
To see all of the mother and daughter creations, head to Instagram at @crafty_mommaof1.