Monart Method
Focus on Shapes: It breaks down objects into basic shapes like circles, lines, squares, triangles, and ovals. This allows learners to focus on basic construction rather than getting overwhelmed by details. Sequential Learning: The method follows a specific sequence, progressing from simple shapes to more complex compositions. This ensures gradual skill development and avoids overwhelming learners. No Mistakes: The emphasis is on learning and exploration, not achieving perfect results. Mistakes are seen as opportunities to learn and improve. Individuality: While following the sequence, the method encourages personal expression and creativity within each stage. Multi-Sensory Learning: It often incorporates drawing exercises with other activities like storytelling and games to keep learning engaging and interactive.
Types of Drawing To Try
Blind Contour Drawing Drawing without looking at the paper. At first try a small object, a leaf, shell or flower. Imagine an bug walking along the edge of the object. Your pencil will follow the insect - make at least two sketches.
Memory Drawing Drawing from memory - look at an object or a mirror for a few moments and then spend the rest of the time drawing without looking.
Gesture Drawing General quick sketches of an object - basic shapes, fluid lines. Try a tree or an entire landscape.
Free Sketching Emphasis is on observation not artistic quality of the drawing.
Practice Ways of Drawing
Spark your child's creativity and change how they see drawing with a fun, surprising experiment! Grab some crayons and paper. Let your little artist draw freely - lines, swirls, shapes, anything that sparks their imagination! Capture their masterpiece with a picture. Now for the magic trick! Mix watered-down tempura paint to create a colorful wash. Brush it gently over the crayon drawing. Watch in wonder as the vibrant paint peeks through the crayon lines, creating a whole new effect. Take another picture to see the transformation! This isn't just about the final product, it's about the process. Seeing the hidden colors emerge will ignite their curiosity and encourage them to experiment with different drawing techniques. Repeat the activity using different paint colors – each time, their drawings will affect the final outcome in a surprising way. This playful exploration helps them understand how art is a journey, not just a destination, fostering a love for creating and the joy of discovery!
Crayon and Wash
Use crayons to draw lines or patterns. Take a picture. Mix some tempura paint with a little water to create a wash, like a thin, colored water color. Now, carefully brush this paint over your entire drawing. The vibrant colors from the tempura paint will peek through the crayon lines, creating a whole new effect. Take a picture - compare the too. Repeat this experiment a few times, each time creating a new crayon drawing and then washing it with a different color tempura paint. As you play, you'll discover that the way you draw can affect what shows through the paint wash. The more you experiment, the more amazing discoveries you'll make! Try it with black crayon on black paper and a thin white wash or white crayon on white paper and a dark wash!
Scratch Art (aka Sgraffito)
To begin, gather thick cardstock, oil pastels or crayons in a variety of colors, black acrylic paint, dish soap, a paintbrush, and a pointed tool like a toothpick or craft stick. Unleash your creativity by covering the cardstock completely with oil pastels or crayons, pressing down firmly to create a thick layer of vibrant color. The more colors you use, the more surprising the final artwork will be! Mixing black acrylic paint with a small amount of dish soap in a separate container. The soap helps the paint scratch off more easily. Using the paintbrush, generously coat the colored cardstock with this mixture, aiming for a smooth and even application. Once dry, the fun begins! With your pointed tool, gently scratch away the black paint to reveal the colorful world hidden beneath.
Bubble Art
Mix dish soap and water in a shallow dish. Feeling fancy? Add drops of food coloring to create a rainbow of bubble hues. If you don't use food coloring, you can first dip straw into tempura paint and then into the bubble solution. Gently blow to create colorful bubbles. Watch them dance in the air and land softly on your white cardstock. Once they pop, they'll leave behind a mesmerizing display of color and texture.
Bubble Printing
Dip your cardstock directly into the bubble solution, ensuring it's completely coated. Carefully lift it out and place it on another sheet of paper. The bubbles will leave behind unique, circular prints – a one-of-a-kind bubble masterpiece!
Drip Art
Using washable paints like watered-down tempura or food coloring, thick paper or cardstock, small cups or containers, and paper towels for cleanup. Pour a small amount of watered-down paint into each cup – a tablespoon or two per color will do. Place a dropper in each paint cup, ready for colorful action. Now for the fun part! Demonstrate how to squeeze the dropper to fill it with paint, then release it to create a delightful drop. Encourage your child to practice – squeezing and releasing takes some coordination, but that's all part of the artistic journey! After drops are released, blow on them to move the paint around.
Salt Paint
Add a little salt to small amount of tempura paint (or finger paint). Let child use a spoon to move the salt paint around. Consider giving child a stencil or sponges. Add more salt or paint as needed.
Painting with Salt
Let child draw an image with pencil and then brush glue on the picture. Then pour salt on the glue. Shake off excess. Dip your larger brush into your watercolor paint (or watered-down food coloring) and lightly dab the paint onto your artwork. The paint will be absorbed by the paper but will resist the salt-covered areas, creating a beautiful textured effect. Experiment with different colors and brushstrokes! The salt will eventually harden, creating a raised and textured surface where you applied the glue.
Collage
Start by tearing tissue paper of various sizes into small pieces. When you have a satisfactory amount, get out the glue sticks! You can give children a coloring book image or a blank paper. Use different small pieces of paper and glue, start creating!
String and Splatter (MESS ALERT!)
Place paint in a container. Place string in paint and then on the paper. Build up the painting by continuing this with different colors.
The same principal works with a splatter painting. Try splattering the paint in different ways - place paint in a cup and splatter it (move your hand quickly). Splatter paint using paint brush (hit the brush on your hand while paint and brush face the paper).
Continuation
Cut out parts of an image and glue it in the center of a page. Allow child to continue the drawing on the rest of the page.
Art Challenges
Talk About Art
Using art books to talk about a painting
Art Challenge
Join a group of fellow artist either in Real Life, sometimes you can find them on facebook or meetup - depending where you live and your access to transport. Or try a virtual challenge - there are many, but here is a pattern expert's challenge #oshuCHALLENGE (on insta)
Artful Thinking Example of one of the games offered on the site called "Look: Ten-Times-Two"
SEE FEEL WONDER how to talk to kids about art if you don't know how to talk to kids or you don't know how to talk about art, and you certainly don't know how to talk to kids about art.
