At one time, I considered art just another subject to add to our school day. Although I never considered it essential, there was never any doubt that it provided an opportunity to add beauty into our lives. Over the years, however, art study has become a tool in our home to not only express beauty, but also to encourage the art of remembering. We discovered that when we connected our read-alouds or other studies to drawing and art projects, we recalled them much better. This was so profound that we incorporated art projects into our studies of missionaries, cultures, and history to aid in comprehension and to tap into the creative “right side of the brain” to provide a visual memory hook for long-term retention.
We’ve used a variety of resources for learning art and drawing skills, such as:
- The Draw Write Now Series
- Draw and Write Through History
- The Usborne Art Treasury
- The Usborne Complete Book of Art Ideas
- Draw the World and Draw the USA (along with other books from this series)
And while these are all excellent books with step-by-step drawing/art instructions, there’s something that’s even better because, although I can follow directions, I haven’t spent years under the direction of an art tutor honing art and drawing skills in myself. This is where a master artist or tutor can provide better instruction and take my children farther than I can take them.
This is an important thing to grasp. A home-centered education doesn’t mean I’m teaching every single subject to my children. As a homeschool mom, I spend quite a bit of time researching and seeking out resources and guidance from others as I direct my children’s education. Simply put, I’m directing their education as I learn alongside them. I don’t need to know everything as long as I’m willing to learn with them.
So… back to my point. How can I take them farther in learning drawing skills and art mediums I’ve never experienced myself? I find resources to help us. And our most favorite art and drawing resource is another homeschool mom who has studied and taught art to children for years. That mom is Marrissa Raimonde, and her website is Yellow Spot: Sun.
We received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it and were so pleased with this course that we invested in another product. We do not recommend anything we don’t love and use in our own homeschool. Affiliate links are used in this post. Please read my full disclosure policy for more details.
A couple of years ago, our oldest son started a study of Architects of the Ancient World. He loved the variety of art mediums offered in the course, and the instruction resulted in a finished project that exceeded anything I have guided him through myself.
As with other art courses on Yellow: Spot Sun, Architects of the Ancient World provides step-by-step drawing and art lessons for teaching art elements (line, shape, color, value, texture, form, and space) through drawing skills (OiLS, symmetry, upside-down drawing, abstract art, and perspective) along with art techniques in a variety of mediums (watercolor, soft pastels, charcoal, and pen & ink).
Each art course offered at Yellow Spot: Sun includes printable notebooking and art appreciation pages.
Because he was studying world history at the time, it was a great tool for reinforcing some of his history studies as well.
As our family embarked on a study of American history, we used the Trailblazing Transit course to add to our children’s history portfolio and our art gallery wall. (If you’re looking to focus more on drawing skills while studying American history, check out the Drawing Americana course.)
For those who may be studying the Medieval Period this year, Kingly Kingdoms provides 24 step-by-step drawing and painting lessons for children K-12 (and their parents!) featuring Illuminated Manuscripts, Jesters, Knights, Unicorns & Dragons, Manor Houses, and Monarchs.
As with Architects of the Ancient World and Drawing Americana, students learn art elements (line, shape, color, value, texture, form, and space) through drawing skills…
- OiLS
- Mirror-image
- Upside-down drawing
- Abstract art
- Perspective
…along with art techniques in acrylic paints and chalk pastels.
Included are lessons in art history as well as extra notebooking pages, booklists, and artist trading cards.
In short, Yellow Spot: Sun offers art tutorials that effectively teach (and inspire!) art appreciation, drawing skills, and art techniques in a one-room schoolhouse atmosphere. The courses are well laid out, and the printables and finished art projects are simply stunning. Art courses currently available include:
- Architects of the Ancient World. 24 step-by-step drawing and painting lessons that introduce the student to the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. (Recommended grades: K-12.) Also available as a classroom or co-op license.
- Kingly Kingdoms. 24 step-by-step drawing and painting lessons inspired by the Medieval Period. (Recommended grades: K-12.) Also available as a classroom or co-op license.
- Drawing Americana. A six week drawing course that introduces the student to a different American artist each week and teaches drawing skills with symbols of America. (Recommended grades: K-12.) Also available as a classroom or co-op license.
- Color Theory with the Impressionists. A four-week painting and drawing course that introduces the student to famous artists Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Georges Seurat, and Vincent Van Gogh. (Recommended grades: K-8.)
- Art Through the Eyes of the American Woman. A four-week art course that introduces the student to American artists Kay Sage, Nancy Graves, Mary Blair and Laurel Burch. (Recommended grades: K-8.)
Also available are Literature-Themed Courses and Art Appreciation Packets.
Free Art Tutorials!
Yellow Spot: Sun offers several drawing and art project tutorials for free! Check out the free art tutorial lessons, which include:
- Rockets!
- Picasso’s Rooster
- Drawing the Trojan Horse
- Ancient Egyptian Boat Drawing
- Symmetrical Warm & Cool Bugs
- Easter Lily Watercolor
- Whimsical Creations with Joan Miro
- Self Portraits in the style of Frida Kahlo
- Weekly Drawing Challenge: RABBITS!
- Weekly Drawing Challenge: ROBOTS!
- Weekly Drawing Challenge: HEARTS!
- Weekly Drawing Challenge: DOGS!
- Weekly Drawing Challenge: FROGS!