This is part 2 of 2 of a blog post on helping your child become an artist.
My 1st tips from the previous post are the following:
#1 - Teach your child to work.
#2 - As a parent pursue your own goals and dreams.
#3 -Give your child art supplies for birthdays and holidays.
#4 - Encourage them to fill 10 sketchbooks.
#5- Take your children places.
#6 - Hang inspiring art in your home.
My mom played an important role in my development as an artist because she created a beautiful home that fed my visual well. I had a few months of art lessons but my greatest influence were all the amazing paintings and beauty that my mom hung up in my childhood home that was a visual feast for me!
Hanging up art doesn't have to be expensive.
My mom cut out calendars and framed them, she hung quilts, put up monthly decor that I enjoyed studying for many hours while I would do boring jobs like folding laundry or cleaning kitchens.
My mom loves to quilt but her 7 daughters only like to color - so we made a crayon quilt! I drew these ladies on fabric with a fabric pen and then we colored this quilt wall hanging with Crayola crayons and ironed it which makes the color permanent. (Use a paper towel for the wax to melt onto the paper towel and leave the color behind.)
The walls of your home are a silent teacher - that can influence your children.
How do you want to influence your children?
For me, I hang pictures of Jesus, religious buildings, fairy tales, hero art, patriotic pictures, and family photos because that is influence I want to give my children.
The other thing that helped me was going to the library.
Guess what???
Books have art.
Especially children's books and famous artist biographies! Children learn so much from being exposed to great artwork.
#7 - Discover how your child likes to create.
I was the oldest of 11 children, so after my jobs were done I wanted to draw in my room. But I didn't like to draw in my room because I felt lonely. But if I colored out in the open, then I would be asked to run errands, or do little jobs, so I spent my time with video games, tv, or friends so that my time would be respected.
Does your child like to create alone, on the go, or with people in the room?
If they like people in the room then try not to interrupt them so they can create. My friend Melissa puts an art table in the corner of her kitchen with art supplies always out and it works great!
Maybe your child would enjoy an outdoor art studio?
#8 - Take art classes in school, the community, and FIND AN ART MENTOR! Work with a professional artist or art mentor in an apprenticeship.
Art school is a recent invention, which is a wonderful opportunity. But the way that one became an artist during the Renaissance was working with a mentor. I didn't even think of finding a mentor as a child but I wish I had!
Steve Laney is a retired local art teacher that mentors me! At my recent art show he taught me 10 amazing truths which I appreciated so much!
In elementary school we had an awesome art program at our school which gave us lots of hands opportunities to try different arts and craft projects.
Elementary art was fun, (especially melting crayons and folding paper in half to create art) but I had so many grand visions in my head I wanted to paint and I really needed to know the basics of drawing, composition and design.
I felt like a bird in a cage that could not fly!
In junior high and high school the art teachers were kind and wonderful people, but they had learned how to teach not how to draw or paint, so I didn't get the tools I needed to give voice to my dreams until I went to college.
(My pride could have also got in the way as well, because I thought I was so good in high school that I skipped some of the foundation classes. I really needed a demanding teacher who would insist that I go through the paces of learning the foundational art principles.)
I felt like I wasted 5 years, which always haunts me.
These 5 years were not wasted, because it lit a fire inside me to gain knowledge that can not be quenched!
Thankfully, I got to go to college where I really learned the foundations!
If the art teacher at your school is not teaching the foundations of figure drawing, perspective, light and shadow (with reflected light), color theory, composition and design then find a mentor to teach you or give you advice.
If you can't find a mentor. Take art lessons.
If money is a challenge then you may barter for art lessons or work as an apprentice for free. I taught a student who would work for me for an hour and then I would give her an hour art lesson. She helped me prepare canvases and I helped her learn! It was a win-win.
I teach art lessons once a month because I am passionate about helping artists learn to fly! I have a You Tube channel that also teaches how to paint.
#9 - Learn from art tutorial books, online books, and Youtube!
I recommend books under art books and tools on my site. You Tube and Vimeo are amazing resources to learn and there are art schools online like SVSlearn, the Christ Oatley Academy, Pixar in a Box at the www.khanacademy.org and Podcasts that can teach one so much! One can learn Photoshop on Phlearn.com and so many other amazing things on You Tube - even Bob Ross!
One's opportunities to learn are nearly limitless!
My son Ben and I have painted a painting with Bob Ross from You Tube which was a great learning experience.
#10 - Encourage your child to learn about art options so they can take a college level art class or pursue an art career.
When I went to college I didn't even know that art school existed! Let your child know about this opportunity and take a tour of an art school, or a college art program, so they can learn about the opportunities to pursue art as a career if they desire. They could be a web designer, graphic designer, art teacher, animator, interior designer, architect, floral designer, fashion designer, etc.
Good luck as you lay a rich soil for your child to pursue their flowering talents. I hope these simple tips will help your child develop their talents - and don't forget to pursue your talents because it will inspire your children to follow their dreams!
Please post other helpful tips below!
Sincerely,
Krystal Meldrum
The Color Dancer
