Name: CHEC Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-12T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-14T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Denver, CO

Tagged: artistic pursuits, Drawing

This topic has 16 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 6 months ago by curlywhirly.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 17 total)

1 2 →

Author
Posts
May 14, 2011 at 4:59 am
Mum In Zion
Participant
My dd 8 has asked for Drawing instruction to help her draw her flowers and bugs that she likes to put in her Nature Journal. I looked at the SCM Curriculum Guide to find some resources and couldn’t see Drawing/Art Instruction listed as one of the subjects. So, what do you do/use to help your children draw better? Do you have a separate Art Lesson or include it in your Nature Study time? I am looking for something simple to teach as I’m not too arty myself 🙂
Thanks. Michelle
May 16, 2011 at 5:05 am
Wings2fly
Participant
I saw the author of Artistic Pursuits speak at a convention. His tips were to start a formal study around 4th grade, or when they start becoming frustrated with their drawings. Before that time, he said to help them study details by much observation and to draw in their own creative way based on what they remember from their observation. I have not tried his book yet, but intend to when my son is closer to 4th grade. He teaches the elements of art and not “how to draw a … just like he does”. So the students learn how to draw without just copying someone else’s drawing. I liked that part of it. Hope that helps. Maybe someone who has actually tried it could give their opinion.
http://www.artisticpursuits.com
May 16, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Mum In Zion
Participant
Thanks for the recommendation. I had a brief look at the Artistic Pursuits website and it looks very interesting. I would love to hear if anyone has actually used it and whether they thought it “user friendly” or labour intensive, and whether it can be used for a variety of ages and talents. The reviews I read make it sound too good to be true 🙂 A “real life” response would be great.
Thanks. Michelle
May 16, 2011 at 7:08 pm
Sara B.
Participant
I’d love to get something like this, as well. My dd is 8, but she is definitely frustrated with her work. She is an artist by nature, and her drawings and creations astound us with her age vs. ability. My dh is an artist, as well, but unfortunately does not have the time to sit down with her regularly and help her learn. Right now they draw side by side, but not always the same things, and he doesn’t teach her the elements at all, to my knowledge. My only reservation is the price… $43 per book is a hefty amount, even if I would be using for 4 separate children.
May 16, 2011 at 9:08 pm
alice
Participant
I will be using Drawing with Children by Mona Brooks. I’ve not used it yet, so I can’t speak from experience…but it’s another option to look at.
Hope it helps some!
May 17, 2011 at 1:54 am
Sara B.
Participant
I got a little feedback about Artistic Pursuits from 2 other HS moms I know, and they both really liked the program. Still waiting for my hubby to look at it (he’s the artist that passed on those genes to the kids ), and I’m hoping he says it’s a go! It looks perfect for my little artists. 🙂
May 17, 2011 at 2:11 am
Rachel White
Participant
My dd, 10, uses it independently as my son has no interest in learning how to draw so I see no point in spending time with him on something that G-d has obviously not called him for. It also teaches art history. She enjoys it, though I also give her other cheap How to… books (like those from Dover) to help give her more specifics. I think a combination of specific how to… instruction with the observation and replication of artwork has been good for her and is the traditonal teaching approach for art; I would compare it to the benefits of teaching specific letter formation and copywork when learning how to write.
I think it works best for those who are naturally artistic, like my dd; not those like my son who are engineer/logic type thinkers.
HTH,
Rachel
May 17, 2011 at 7:34 am
LastFrontier
Member
I am using Artistic Pursuits loosely with my two young boys. One is very artistic, especially with sculpture materials. The other is a very “engineer/logic type thinker”, like Rachel’s son. Surprisingly, both of my boys love it. Funny how children who are similar in many ways can also be so different. I believe that they do need some practice copying the great artists, just as children need to read great books and learn to write in different styles. It serves many purposes, and it helps them develop their own style. I’ve read about numerous artists and writers who started out copying the works of people they admired. But, back to Artistic Pursuits. I haven’t seen the books for older students. The early books allow for a great deal of creativity and self-expression. I think it’s very good for younger children. I haven’t seen Drawing with Children, but have heard wonderful things about it.
May 17, 2011 at 8:02 am
Mum In Zion
Participant
Rachel – Which book are you using with your dd? Do you think it is important to start at Book 1 and work through them in order? or could we start with Book 2 which would compliment our Artist Study?
Alice – I was given the Mona Brooks book and it also looks good but it appears to be very labour intensive. I just want something to peek their interest in art and then maybe we can focus more on the details.
Thanks for you comments.
Michelle

May 17, 2011 at 11:20 am
alice
Participant
I know what you mean about the book. It’s pretty intimidating, but I’m going to give it a shot anyway. My 7yo ds draws daily, and I know he’d love something to help him in it. I wish the book were laid out in a more user-friendly way!
May 18, 2011 at 3:26 am
Rachel White
Participant
Michelle, I started last year, when she was in “3rd” with Book One of K-3. I may use Bk. 2 of K-3 next year as my artist “spine” and let her do the projects. Then, the year after that in her “5th” gr year, I’ll start her on Bk.1 of the 4-6 gr. books if she continues to enjoy them.
Since yours is 8, I think you could use Bk. 2 just fine. Since your dd wants to draw actual things, I would recommend getting her the cheap How to Draw… and I Can Draw… books just for that immediate, purely “how to” technique that she needs. Those types of books are what my dd uses to refer back to for help when she draws on her own. I see AP as the big picture, formal, long-term art instruction that will help develop her own artistic abilities.
HTH,
Rachel
May 18, 2011 at 6:48 pm
Rachel White
Participant
OK, I was lost and now I”m found…the post, that is.
So to bring it to Michelle’s attn., I’m bumping up.
Thanks for freeing my post, Doug!
Rachel
May 21, 2011 at 8:13 pm
Sara B.
Participant
I was at our homeschool co-op expo last night, and one of the families brought Artistic Pursuits Grades K-3 Book 1 to show along with some of the artwork they did with it. So I talked to the mom and one of the kids about it. They all really enjoy it, and since they are done with it for the year, they let me borrow it! 🙂 I am so excited to try it out!
December 6, 2013 at 3:46 am
lawrence1139
Participant
In one of the SCM workshops on DVD, the speaker’s husband got up and shared about the books he uses to teach from. They were inexpensive, he gave the example of the learning to draw buildings book, but they have lots of different topics, mainly pencil sketching. I can’t remember the name of the series or the books or the company. Does anyone know what I’m talking about?
December 6, 2013 at 4:40 am
Sue
Participant
I believe this thread, http://simplycharlottemason.com/scmforum/topic/sketch-books-mr-shafer-used, refers to what you are looking for. Sonya Shafer mentions the books her husband uses in her reply to the original poster.
HTH