HOMESCHOOL | studying art

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” ~Oscar Wilde

Because I’m an artist, I love studying art. I love walking through museums, perusing art books, and spending time creating on my own.

But when it came to studying art with my children, I had a difficult time knowing where to start. Although I knew it was imperative to include in their education, I needed a starting place.

I know I’ve already mentioned how much I love Charlotte Mason’s approach to education, and her philosophy incorporated art history and study seamlessly. I started with a few books which I highly recommend: The Come Look With Me Series by Gladys S. Blizzard. Each of these beautiful picture books focuses on a subject such as animals or play in art. The author presents some of the more recognizable and famous pieces of art and a little about each artist, the medium used, and story of the image to read aloud with younger children. She also gives a few questions to prompt discussion, such as “What did the artist do to show you that the mother and her children are having a good time?”

Our Classical Conversations coop used the Great Artists book to study a different artist each week. I found this book to be a simple resource, easy to follow and a great go-to for at home art projects.

As my children have gotten older, I’ve started collecting coffee table books of art by some of my favorite artists including Norman Rockwell, Matisse, Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, as well as collections of photographic journals published by Life. Having these accessible means we are more likely to have an old fashioned sit down with a beautiful book rather than an uninspiring web search.

I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s no formula, no exact right way to educate our children. When it comes to art, start with what you as the mom enjoy studying. Spend an afternoon walking a museum. Talk to your children about what they see and ask their opinion- Do they like what they see? How does it make them feel? Call your local museum and ask for information about special exhibits. Our museums have free family days each month which is a wonderful benefit to take advantage of. As with most things, the important part is to START.

I’m working on a post about my favorite curriculum and one of my favorite things about it was the inclusion and focus on art throughout history. I’m also pulling together some of my favorite art supplies to have on hand.