Art studies are done in several ways in the Charlotte Mason
Home.
The first is through artist study. This is as simple as
taking an artist every term/semester and studying up to six pieces of his work
over 12 weeks. Children are given good quality prints to look at for
several minutes, then the picture is turned over and discussed. The
children are often asked to re-create their favourite aspects of a picture, and
maybe even create their own work in the style of the artist.
The second aspect of art, is the art lesson. Once a
week, a child is given an art lesson. Good quality materials are provided,
and the child is asked to produce their own work... maybe according to the theme
being studied at present, maybe whatever they feel like. This is your
choice as parent and teacher. Charlotte was very much in favour of
allowing the child to paint solely with the brush and without preliminary
drawing... and indeed it is wise to allow your child the freedom of such, but
also bear in mind the materials available today are much better quality and do
allow the child freedoms that were not available in Charlotte's time.
Encourage working with ink to draw as this also allows the child to learn
accuracy from the start.
For more information on Drawing and Painting with your child,
I recommend:
Drawing and Painting with Children: Mona Brookes
Drawing and Painting with Older Children and Teenagers: Mona
Brookes
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: Betty Edwards
The third aspect of art in the Charlotte Mason home, is the
NATURE NOTEBOOK. It has several names that you may discover: Nature
Journal, Nature notebook, Country Diary... but they are all the same
thing. Give the child quality paper (as they get older you may wish to provide
a sketchbook or pad) to make notes on the nature walks they take and the time
spent outside. Notes might include:
Time and Date, Weather Conditions and Temperature, Location,
Animals Observed, Plants observed.
In addition to this, the children are encouraged to draw what
they see. Watercolours are a good thing to have handy, and watercolour
pencils are the modern wonder that really helps us out in this case! Older
children may be entrusted with a digital camera to take quality photos, and even
a film camera if you are willing. For the most part though, the younger
child is just encouraged to draw and paint. Why? Because
observational skills are created when they really look to draw.
For more on Nature Notebooking read:
Pocketful of Pinecones: Karen Andreola
The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady: Edith Holden
The Sierra Club Guide to Sketching in Nature: Cathy Johnson
Keeping A Nature Journal: Clare Walker Leslie and Charles
Roth
Create Your Own Artists Journal: Erin O'Toole
Wild Days: Creating Discovery Journals: Karen Skidmore
Rackliffe
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