Teaching Art

25. November 2008 by Shannon.

I am NOT artistic. 

Not by ANY definition… I can see art and appreciate it, I can marvel at people’s natural creativity… but I am no artist myself.

I’ve often wondered what would become of my children (when the Bigs were toddlers and pre-schoolers) with this mother-of-theirs who, although she would stay at home and read loads of stories, who would encourage them to play creatively… yet she shuddered at the mere thought of play-doh, and finger painting just put her into a state of desperate panic.  But I guess God got the final laugh on that one, I have two VERY artisitic teens, and two Littles who are following in their bigger siblings’ footsteps.  ALL of them (probably even Chaeli at only 3 year old) far exceed mom’s artistic abilities.  Sigh.

But how am I to encourage their artistic development? 

Well, Diane at Spears Art has created a very logically laid out CHRISTIAN art program.  This is almost like a art devotional… it’s amazing!

Okay, just to give you today as an example. 

My daughter’s friends came over this morning.  So I decided to include them in the “lesson”.  I didn’t have the Littles at home (they are visiting their aunt while our renovations are in the throes of chaos) so it was just an 8, 12, 13 and almost 15 year old (who could have done the highschool lesson for today, but he liked the style that we were doing in the Grade 8 lesson so I let him join in… *grin*).  We were learning about trees and their uses, and what similarities there are between trees and people.  We read from the book of Romans and discussed the fruit of our lives are like the fruit of a healthy tree, and how all our actions can be an act of worship to God when we look for ways to glorify Him.  Then we drew “pointilism” trees.  now, the younger girls kind of varied what they were doing - but they got the point (haha, pun intended!). 

My son got right into it… he’s almost 15, and as all teens will look for a way to either “high tech” it (we call it “lazy it” around here, grin!), he discovered (after doing it by pen) that he could make a pointilism picture on the computer using “Paint”.  I was impressed with both efforts. 

My daughter (13) put her all into her picture, and although the realism isn’t there as much, the concentration she spent and the enjoyment she got out of the “style” of drawing was worth so much to me… she felt so accomplished, and loves the way it looks.  She said “it looks real, like it has movement in it”.  I wanted to post a picture of it but she’s such a perfectionist.. she says she’s “not done yet”… so I’ll have to come back and add that later on.  But she loves this program… she’s done such nice art work and feels so good about learning art with “God in the middle” that I’d have to say, this is truly a blessing to our homeschool!

Spears Art Studio has two programs.  One is for K-8 and the other is for High School.  The K-8 one is the one I am reviewing right now, although Ev will most likely be reviewing the HS one later on… after he’s gone through it a bit more.  Each week there is a lesson (although it should be mentioned that some of the “holiday oriented” stuff ties into the American holidays… not so much the Canadian - I’m thinking of this week, about Thanksgiving… we were done that over a month ago… but it’s easily adjusted, you just do a different week in it’s place… it is  your art course, play with it and make it personal!). 

The CD with lessons plans for 9 years of art courses is only $39.95 (shipping included!!!)  - that’s less than $4.50 a grade!!!  Yes, you’ll need materials, but most of the projects use very low cost materials… like kraft paper, or construction paper, or drawing pencils… nothing too “out there” - even for non-artsy me! :o) 

The high school program is an art survey course,  and it is only $29.95 (yes, shipping included!).

One of the most delightful part of the course is a wall-sized mural (yes, you can scale it down, but why not go big?  It’s more fun!) of Noah’s ark that “journeys” through the year… well, I won’t give you more details than that, because I think it’s a fun thing to learn for yourself…

So why not head over to www.spearsartstudio.com and check out this amazing art curriculum?  If I … art-challenged me … can do it, I know you’ll love doing this with your kids too!  Praise God for such inspired people as Diane Spears!

Blessings!

ps: I have finally got permission from my daughter to post her pointillism picture here… I think hers is so nice!

As a review blogger,  I am provided a free copy of the book, curriculum or product to test and use in order to write an honest review. I receive no other compensation and the opinions I share are my own and not influenced by the company in question.

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