Three Important Questions:
- Should anyone show anybody what they don’t know ?
- Should anyone teach anybody how to do something they don’t know how to do themselves ?
- Should we learn what to do and how to do it from someone who can do it?
How many well qualified people do you know, who can show you how do things or do things for you ? An experienced Baseball Coach, a great Dentist, a trusted Financial Planner or a sensitive Day Care Provider, I am sure you know many such people.
Ask this Question then: Could I do these things for myself ? Probably not, but I could be a hindrance or a help to their effectiveness in fulfilling my needs. This is where we begin to answer our most important question –
Should You Show a Young Child What To Draw and How To Draw ?
After teaching Art on average 400 students a year, ages 3 to 13, in different Elementary Schools, Pre – Schools, online, and in Summer Art Camps for the past thirty years, I have discovered a few things that will help you with your answer to our Question; Should You Show a Young Child What To Draw and How To Draw ? I am sure your students and kids will sigh with relief when they discover how ‘Art Smart” you have become.
Discovery #1
There are no mistakes in Art ,
This is an ‘ Absolute’ in my classes and every child has blossomed under this complete state of freedom and security. There are mistakes in Math and in making cookies. Think about this statement and all that it implies …No mistakes in Art … No mistakes in Art …
Drawing by 5 year old girl at Summer Art Camp for the first time.
Discovery #2
There are no rules in Art only Principles.
Yes,you can color out of the lines and no you do not have to fill it all in if you don’t want to. “Mr. Mulvey is it alright if I … Yes Paige, you can do what you want to do, there are’ No Rules’ in Art … only Principles. ” There are rules in Football and Monopoly and of course in Schools … but not in Art!!
Three lines … a character or two …Some weather …and you have Drawn a Story using artistic principals and not rules.
Discovery #3
Art must be Fun!
If you want to destroy a child’s innate love for art from the ages of 3 to 9 then just sit them down in front of some object and prattle on about seeing edges and form and light and shade and depth and contrast and all the other inappropriate concepts of an “adult art class “.
There is nothing wrong with drawing through observation but it must be introduced in small amounts … a little at a time.
Students find self discovery in nature.
Drawing through observation is fun if you give them a few tips and then” Back off” and let them go at it in their own way.
Let’s draw the three trees and everything in front and behind them. This is the Principle of Depth .
Contrast is everywhere in nature.Always something bigger and something smaller. Draw with Principals not Rules and have FUN with you DRAWING and PAINTING!
Discovery #4
Children draw from symbol from ages 3 to about 9
Young artists from age 3 to about 9 are not interested in realistic representation. What a child draws is what they have attached to. Drawing from attachment is the biggest, best kept secret in the field of teaching a Young Child What To Draw and How To Draw.
Always put contrast into your groupings … size… colour … gesture. Draw with principales not rules.Draw what you love and are attached to.
Know any 3 to 9 year olds who are attached to Big Digger machines?
It’s a Big World! Do kids aged 4 to 9
Discovery #5
Children draw what they love to draw– and they draw what they love – and they love what they are attached to.
Here is my top twenty list of things You Should Show a Young Child To Draw and How To Draw.You show them the list and I’ll show them how to draw it. Just sit with them and join us as we draw from the Artabet.
Just a quick note before you start. Although your 4 to 9 year old may be attached to some ‘media sensation’ just remember it will most likely fall into one of the choices below.
Trucks and cars turn into automated super heroes and puppies turn into rescue squads, so stick with the list and all their drawing attachments will be fulfilled. They will identify what they are drawing from their own perception and attachment.
You will have to look through the website blogs to find all these but you will find them … make it an Artabet Treasure Hunt. Good luck ‘mateys’
- Puppy
- Kitty
- Penguin
- Owl
- Cow
- Monkey
- Fish
- Snail
- Bear
- Poodle
- Car
- Truck
- Spaceship
- Beaver
- Castle
- Pirate Kitty
- Elf
- Turkey
- Dinosaur
- Sea Serpent
If you want to make it easy … just download the FREE Teacher Packs and order our ebook
Artabet First Steps In Drawing
Download And Start Playing
Learn to Draw the Artabet
Thanks for the informatiom.
Hi Cliffann,
Lots more coming over the next 6 months,so check back when you feel to.
Appreciate you taking the time to say thanks.
Great information! My 5 year old has an intense love of drawing. She is drawing nonstop all day it seams. I draw with her sometimes, but I know nothing of art! This blog has given me some great tips for us both to work on.
Thanks Jennifer, I just finished a class with 5 and 6 year olds this morning and yes their enthusiasm is a real blessing to be around.I want to re-do all the u-tube videos and put them through Vimeo as it is such a superior vehicle for films.
I feel that we could have more kids music on the new videos and put a few together into a 20 min.class format.
Would appreciate any feedback from your side.
Hi Ron,
I’m just browsing through and love what I see! My just turned 4 year old is already self critical of his drawings, or says things like “I don’t know how to draw…” Ever since he could talk, he’ll ask me to draw things for him. and Since he was 3, there are times where I’ll see him spontaneously draw things with form and detail, like a jellyfish, a recycling truck, or an octopus, but it’s rare. Once in a while I’ll ask him to draw a card for someone, and if he gets stuck, I’ll coach him step by step (draw a circle, now extend a line here, etc). Other times he’ll ask me to draw and he’ll just color it in. My question is… how do I encourage his confidence in drawing? At times I’m impressed at the form that he is able to convey, and other times he gets self critical pretty quickly. Should I be giving him suggestions if he gets stuck? Or should I back off? Thanks!
Hi Daphne, So glad you are keenly involved with your son. Here is the secret that has given me a following of over 300,000 young artists. Get your materials ready, Have the Artabet book and the teacher pacs available for directed drawing and then just sit with him and have a good time playing and drawing.Watch one of my videos, play some of the art games in the teacher pacs or the Artabet book. Impress on him that there are no mistakes in art. He is young and that rhymes with fun.
Never back off but always listen. Let me know if you want some more help. Send me a drawing and we can put it up on the website. Praise and encouragement will always win the day. Thanks, Ron.