Dad shares 5-year-old son's paintings, internet amazed

When Joseph from Dublin started painting in the evenings to unwind from work, he never expected his 5-year-old son Philip would steal the show.

Philip watched his dad blend colors and clean pastel tips, then decided he wanted to try. Joseph thought it was adorable when his son started mimicking his movements, so he got Philip some pastels of his own.

What happened next surprised everyone. Philip turned out to be a natural, creating moody landscape paintings that looked more like the work of an experienced artist than a kindergartener.

Joseph posted one of Philip's paintings on Reddit last year, a blue mountain lake scene with wispy skies and slightly foreboding trees. Within two days, it racked up over 100,000 views and 3,000 likes.

The most common response? "Uh, 5-year-olds can't do that."

But Philip absolutely did. He follows along with YouTube painting tutorials, which provide structure while allowing his natural talent to shine through. His versions always come out different from the examples, with aggressive brushstrokes and unexpected color choices that give each piece remarkable personality.

"I told Philip about it, and I guess that was his first big dopamine hit," Joseph says. "Since then, he is asking to draw more often."

One of Philip's paintings was even submitted to a charity auction at his school. The young artist now brings home new artwork at least twice a week.

Sunny's Take

What makes this story so heartwarming isn't just Philip's talent. It's watching a dad navigate the tricky balance of encouraging his son without pushing too hard. Joseph lets Philip come to him asking to use the pastels rather than pressuring him to perform.

Experts say this approach is exactly right. Pushing children too hard toward longterm goals like art school or professional careers can backfire, making them feel overwhelmed and resentful.

Philip tried a formal afterschool art club but found it too restrictive. Now he creates on his own terms, experimenting and growing at his own pace.

The process matters more than the product, especially at age five. How parents react to even nonsensical toddler scribbles can shape a child's self-esteem and lifelong relationship with creativity.

Joseph is giving his son something more valuable than art lessons: the freedom to discover joy in making something beautiful, one painting at a time.