These resources are those I’ve found and compiled from other sources online. Unless I’ve stated otherwise, we haven’t vetted them ourselves.

Although formal instruction in art is not necessary, you may choose to make this subject a part of your homeschool. Depending on how your other subjects are going, and how important art is to your family, you may choose to do art once a week, or every day.

In the first few years of art education, you’ll want to focus on art techniques (drawing, painting, and sculpting are the most common forms, but you can broaden this to printmaking, collages, and so on) as well as the elements of art (color, form, line, shape, space, texture, and value).

If you have a teenager who is gifted in art, you may be able to find a local artist willing to tutor your child (artists are always happy to receive a little extra money for groceries). 

For art appreciation, you can study various artists and famous pieces of artwork.  Look at various pieces of art, and discuss the various elements of art in them. Work with your child on memorizing the name and artist for each work of You can also link art appreciation to history, studying artists and their works as they come up along their history study timeline.

Art & Art Appreciation – Suggested Resources

Drawing

  • Drawing Textbook by Bruice McIntyre
  • Draw Write Now … series of 8 books. Choose 4 based on topics that interest your family. Also includes optional copywork for English language arts. (K-3)
  • The Art of Drawing for Kids (DVD set)
  • Draw and Write through History … series (independent work!) (Gr 3-8)
  • Wonders of Nature Sketchbook: Learn About Nature & How to Draw It by Colleen Monroe and Michael Glen Monroe
  • Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain (Gr 6-12+)

Painting

  • The Art of Drawing for Kids (DVD set)
  • William F Powell – The Art of Watercolour Painting and The Art of Acrylic Painting

Sculpting

  • Katherine Dewey’s books on creating lifelike animals/figures in polymer clay

Other

  • Illuminated Letters Sketchbook by Jane Sullivan
  • How to (Paint/Draw/Etc) Videos Online [We’re fond of the Art for Kids Hub YouTube channel]
  • Art Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Adventures in Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Paper, and Mixed Media

Art Appreciation and/or Art History

  • Dover Art Postcards
  • Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists (picture book series) 
  • Aline D. Wolf’s books on art appreciation for children (Montessori)
  • Ever Ancient Ever New (levels 1 and 2) from Catholic Heritage Curricula (teaches art history, art appreciation, art theory, and practice for K-12. Get the accompanying art pad for practical application)
  • A Child’s History of Art Architecture by V. M. Hillyer and E. G. Huey
  • Art 5 for Young Catholics (Seton Art text for gr 5 – on the rosary)
  • The Annotated Mona Lisa: A Crash Course in Art History from Prehistoric to Postmodern by Carol Strickland