Drawing with Children

As a homeschooling mom the most important part of my job is to foster a love for learning in my children.

Seasonal tree for science (winter)

This does not mean subjects have to be flashy or exciting, but real and full of truth. It is in learning the truth that one is urged to continue to search and explore.

 Because I love to do art myself I was naturally very excited to teach art to my children. I struggled at first with where to begin, and decided to follow the basic art lessons I learned at my childhood school.

Figure practice (movement) 1st grade

Standard art lessons for most schools begin with line drawing to create shapes to form an object and then progress to filling in those shapes with proper colors. Instead of this approach, we begin with color and form. Being able to see a figure and capture its form with broad strokes of a block crayon without re-do's or erasers is a skill worth practicing. It deepens ones ability to think ahead and helps children in younger years especially to learn this basic art form that is true, yet at their level. This type of drawing is what we most practiced in my drawing class in college. Instead of getting caught up with outlining, this practice helps one to capture movement, an object, or a figures position with confidence.   

Animal figure (movement) 3rd grad

My favorite drawing materials are Stockmar beeswax block crayons and large pencils. The quality is lasting and the colors are vibrant. The crayons can make broad strokes or narrow marks with the different edges. The ones I bought for my 8 year old four years ago are now in the hands of my two year old. They can be an expense, especially compared with Crayola, but we use them and benefit from them for our school so much that I see the cost as well worth it. The pencils are also sturdy and have similar quality and the led will not easily break in little hands. From preschool to 4th grade these have been our drawing materials.

Nature journaling

Stockmar block crayons

What we draw and practice:

1.      Saints on or around their feast day, often from a chalkboard drawing that I prepare before school or while they do bookwork.

2.      Seasonal tree outside for science

3.      Selection of science lessons or experiments

4.      Sometimes a poem or story if called for in a language lesson or a history report.

5.      Practice color mixing with only primary colors (block crayons)

6.      Practice form drawing with one color (block crayons)

Example of my chalkboard drawing for a saint story (St. Hubert)

Example of my chalkboard drawing for St. Bernadet's feast day