Art Basics

Exploring Art with your homeschooler is a fun and creative subject to teach. If you are unsure of where to start, here are several ideas for basic instruction. Of course these concepts should be tailored to your individual homeschooler, and the average instruction time should be 15-30 minutes for lower elementary children, 30-45 minutes for upper elementary children, and 60-90 minutes for middle and high school children.

1. Explore the Elements in Art:

Line
Shape
Form
Texture
Value
Space
Color

2. Explore the Principles of Art:

Balance
Movement
Repetition
Emphasis
Contrast

3. Gather resources:

DK Art School: An Introduction to Art Techniques (DK Art School)by Ray Smith is an inexpensive resource for your elementary homeschooler, chock full of basics and ideas for projects and lesson activities.


Lessons in Classical Drawing: Essential Techniques from Inside the Atelier by
Juliette Aristides is an excellent resource for older homeschoolers.


4. Incorporate basics into simple projects-such as String Painting to reinforce line, shape, etc. Here is an easy string painting project:

Materials Needed:

Several sheets of white drawing paper per child, 9x12" or larger
Tempera paint in paper plates
Strings, various pieces of at least 12" in length

Directions:

Holding the string pieces one at a time on one end, students will dip their strings into the paint. Laying the string onto papers your child will create various designs, showing basic art elements.

5. Invest in an Art program which can provide complete instruction for your homeschool classroom. Emphasis Art: A Qualitative Art Program for Elementary and Middle Schools (9th Edition) by Robert D. Clements is a comprehensive choice.