How would I do this for picture study?

My son is newly eight years old.  I have been homeschooling for 9 years (17 year old daughter).  I am looking to add picture study to our days of learning, and so I have been studying SCM.  I am leaning toward early american and american west artwork, simply because I wish to tie it in with our area of history study.  As I was trying to come up with a list of artists, I looked up and saw a painting on my wall that was painted by my mother.  She did a great number of paintings, all oil, mostly landscapes, over the years, but she hasn’t painted in a very long time. 

I was wondering how I could use her as my “artist” of choice?  She has no biography, but she lives about a five minute walk across the field, LOL!   I am sure she would allow us to “borrow” each painting for a few weeks to display at our home.  I am also thinking that maybe, with our using this for school, she might wish to begin painting again.  She is 83 years old and physically in great health, but for other reasons she has not painted for a long time.

Any thoughts?  I would still look for the early american/american west artwork as well, but I would love to have some other ideas to use her work.  She really is extremely talented.   My dad (age 85), has taught my son many things of a “manly” nature and my son loves nothing more than to be in “Papa’s shop”.   My dad is slowing down now, as well, but still is relatively good health.  I want to use my parents as much as possible in regard to “teaching”.   This would be a way my mom could get involved.  I have “suggested” before that she teach my kids an “art” class, but she doesn’t seem too interested in actual “this is how you do it” teaching.   But, if we could used her paintings as picture study, I believe she would be agreeable to answering questions….

Thanks for reading… just figuring this out as I go