A Few Drawing Assignments

We do artwork for homeschooling and one of the activities is drawing. This year, I have been making up some specific assignments for them and here are a few of them.

This first assignment was:
Draw a tree with at least 2 other items in the picture, for interest.

These are the drawings. 

The kids have different drawing levels and interests and I am so pleased to see them improve their skills. I do not want to have them all do the same thing.

 This tree drawing was done very nicely... I love the various methods of shading he used... and the details... even the type of bark he put on the tree. I think it is important to keep challenging their skill... they know I love their work... but I want to keep teaching them more and leading them to discover more also. :)

This is a culmination of teaching various techniques and I love how it all comes together. Their work has changed much over the years and it was very simple in the beginning. If you haven't taught drawing, please don't be intimidated by it. There are books at the library or homeschool fair... and online. Start simple... praise their work... make suggestions... enjoy their learning... draw with them(they love that!).... and more.

I like the rocks... the way the water flows down over rocks. There are so many details here that lead the eye to keep looking. Obviously, he is very good at noticing details and being able to put them down on paper. By the way, this son rarely looks at something to draw it... most ideas are stored in his head from things he has seen before.

The other pictures are in no way less important because of this emphasis.

This son enjoys designing houses on computer... and would love to have architectural training. Will learning drawing just be a waste? No. By they way, a few of the techniques he uses so nicely... are things I didn't teach him to use....  opening the door to learning allows them to keep learning on their own. :)

 This assignment was simple: Draw a door.  I love how they did these... the stairs and railing on one, the door panels, the windows, welcome mat,  shadowing, doorknobs, and more. 

I have been asked why I would push my children to draw better than they do since they already do well. I think it is important to continue to learn and to use the skills God has given to us. I do not want to build a spirit of pride into my children, and I do want them to develop their skills more and more.... and it is happening.

This assignment was to draw a close-up picture. Sometimes they are frustrated by such an assignment and would rather I say to draw a specific thing. One chose a book, one dominoes and one part of a car.

By the way, these are currently hanging on our pantry doors... it has been such a blessing to use these doors to display such work as it allows my husband and their older siblings to see what they have been doing. :)

This assignment was to draw a country scene.... and again, I love the details... a bird on a fence post, a wagon wheel, doors, barbed wire on the fence, and more. 

As we come to the end of our school year, I have given them their last drawing assignment for the year. The assignment is to draw a garden path. Sounds simple, doesn't it? I wonder if they will have stepping stones... or plants... or an arbor... or bushes.... maybe a fruit tree.... so many possibilities.   I look forward to seeing what they come up with.

I think drawing is very beneficial to our children, whether they ever get a job using it someday or not. I took art classes in high school and have loved being creative and using art. I was offered a scholarship through art, but  chose not to use it because when we toured the college, the only realistic art I saw, was a statue of a naked woman. This was a time when abstract art was so popular and I really didn't care for it(and I still don't). My art teacher was very disappointed in me and said I was throwing my life away, but I felt that God had a different plan for me and I am so glad I followed it.  I have used art so much in teaching, in homemaking, in letter writing, in decorating, in rag painting, in mixing paints, in repurposing items, in gardening, in cooking...  and more. The art I have learned and the creativity God built into my brain... haven't been wasted... they were just used differently than my teacher thought they should be. 

The fun thing is to hand our children ways to develop their skills.... then sit back and see what God will do with them. :)  He does have a wonderful plan for their lives.  Thank you for visiting my blog today.  :) 

UPDATE:

 I am so excited that Son #3 is now working with me to illustrate my book! We are working on the cover and his drawings will be on the cover of the book when we publish. I am working hard to get everything done to get it in print. Exciting and overwhelming too! :)   





Shared on:

Friday at the Fire Station
Blogger's Pit Stop
Paula's No Rules Weekend Party
Wise Woman
Talk of the Town
Tuesdays w/ a Twist
Inspire Me Monday
Modest Mom
Art of Homemaking