Encouraging Young Artists

This post from Nadine over at Practical Pages is so good I feel compelled to feature it.

Generous Artists and Art Teachers

Anyone who takes even a quick look at this chronicle of our Homeschool art adventures will realize that I am a big fan of the generous artists and art teachers who share their work, their techniques, their lesson plans, and their students' work on websites.  It would be so much more difficult to do what I do without accessing their creativity. 

Sure, I can find books at the library, but this morning during a bout of insomnia, 3:30 a.m. found me gathering information online for our next few lessons.  My library, wonderful though it is, was not open at 3:30, they don't allow me to sit inside with my mug of coffee, and I probably would hesitate to venture there in my pajamas.

On my sidebar, I have a few of those sites listed.  I could add many more - I have some maybe a dozen more listed in my favorites under "HOMESCHOOL:Art."  But I don't want the sidebar to go on and on, flowing all the way down off the screen and onto the floor.  

This morning I am adding a new site to my sidebar.  Kids Artists is new to me.  This art teacher blogs in 2 languages.  I am enjoying these lessons from the Netherlands.  Go check it out!

Art Show Inspiration

Last weekend we went to a local Fine Arts Show.  Many real live full-time artists exhibited beautiful works.  At this show, a large children's area is set up with exhibits from school-age children, hands-on art to do right there, and entertainment.  Middle and High School works are judged; Elementary students receive a ribbon as participant.

Earthgirl had a few entries for the art show.  No, she didn't do the Mona Lisa - that was done by another talented local homeschooler. Earthgirl did the other 3 works in this picture. See those batik leaves?

I saw some familiar art - I think some of these school art teachers go to some of my sources for ideas, too.

Oooo...We must draw trees like this.  I cannot say for sure if this is a talking tree or if the hole in the tree just looks like a mouth.  I think it talks.

This cat is way cool.  I think the Sm'Arties will draw a cat like this.  Maybe we can come up with a dog, too. 

I think this giraffe is beautiful and copyable.  I did not pay attention to the medium, but looks like oil pastels.  The leaves are so bright and happy!  See how he is looking down at us while munching his lunch?