Here are some easy ways to get started with art instruction
Many times parents ask me for ideas on getting started and the books I share in this lens are not only inexpensive but they can be the foundation of your grammar stage art instruction.
You do not need any special skills to get started except for the desire to have fun and learn alongside your children.
Drawing Instruction Books
These two books are the foundation of our learning to draw plan.
Mark Kistler's Draw Squad
Easy step by step instruction that even young children can enjoy. Lots of examples and encouragement to draw every day.
Amazon Price: $15.60 (as of 11/07/2009) 
Mark Kistler's Imagination Station: Learn How to Drawn in 3-D with Public Television's Favorite Drawing Teacher
This helps your child become familiar with the tools that will help them learn to draw things in 3-D.
Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 11/07/2009)
Mark Kistler Online
Try out some of his free online lessons to get started.
- Mark Kistler Website
- This is a treasure of a website for learning to draw. You also might check out his summer camps and school assembly program pages. We happened upon a summer camp near our home three years ago and it was a wonderful experience.
- Try out his free lessons.
- Click on the pencil that says "lessons" and you will be able to complete a few lessons for free.
Examples of drawings from Draw Squad Lessons
Cityscape
Drawing a sphere
Drawing a sphere 2
Making things round
More practice with r...
Planet-round
Shadows
Sketch a box
M Kistler robot
M Kistler no tv
M Kistler building w...
M Kistler box city
Imagination city
Lesson practice from...
More lesson practice...
Termite Club practic...
Mark Kistler Drawing...
Mark Kistler
Mark Kistler Pipe wo...
Mark Kister lesson p...
How to Use The Draw Squad Book
What to expect and how to get started
The book has valuable introductory information that you should not miss reading over. This section will help you as the parent to have an overview of how Mark Kistler teaches drawing and then structures his lessons.First he describes the "Ten Key Words of Drawing". These include foreshortening, shading, surface, size, contour lines, overlapping, density, shadows, attitude, and daily use. These ideas are thoroughly covered in the Draw Squad book for your child to learn and then apply in their everyday drawing.
There are 30 drawing lessons in this particular book and they each are structured in a way that easily breaks down the steps to understanding the lesson's concept and then helps your child apply the concept to his own ideas.
Beginning Watercolors
We had great results with this book.
Watercolor: For the Artistically Undiscovered (Klutz)
A book, watercolor paper, watercolor paints, and a brush
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 11/07/2009)
What to Expect from Watercolor for the Artistically Undiscovered
by Thacher Hurd and John Cassidy
This book has everything you need to get started with your children's painting instruction. In typical Klutz style, this book is colorful and easy to follow.The first half of the book covers the fundamentals and the second half goes more into detail.
Topics covered: learning to use your brush, stencils, color combinations, washes, light and shadow, perspective, and the four steps to painting a still life.
Watercolor Samples
Here are some scans of actual pages from the book as well as a few follow up watercolor projects.
Watercolor perspecti...
Watercolor washes
Watercolor creatures
Watercolor combining
still life watercolo...
Watercolor flower pr...
Watercolor hotrod ca...
Additional Watercolor Tutorial Links
- Washes
- Simple tutorial on how to paint a watercolor wash.
- Stripes of white
- This tutorial helps with brush control for beginners.
- Thick and thin lines
- This tutorial helps increase your brush control.
- Wet on wet technique
- This tutorial explores a unique quality of watercolors and gives a fantastic effect. Children love to watch the paints mix.
- More brush techniques
- This video tutorial starts with a simple idea that your children can use creatively in their own paintings.
- Watercolors and rubbing alcohol
- This is another easy variation with simple instructions but unique results.
- Watercolors and table salt
- Here is another video tutorial showing how to use ordinary table salt for a surprising result.
Some More Art Related Lenses
Want some more info?
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Sketch Tuesday
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Sketch Tuesday is a weekly event on my blog. I give a simple, open-ended sketching assignment and anyone who is interested is welcome to submit a drawing. All assignments are se...
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Dover Coloring Books
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We have used Dover Coloring Books for a long time as a part of our art appreciation and art skills plans. These inexpensive coloring books have helped us follow up on artist studies as well as learn some important drawing skills.
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Art Supplies for Kids
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As an art teacher, I was asked many times what to include in an art kit for school-age children. In this lens I will list my favorite art supplies for children to use in their drawing activities.
Mom's Watercolor Project
New Guestbook
Jimmie wrote...
We have received our Kistler Draw Squad book, and it's wonderful! I can see that we'll be buying more of his titles.
Posted March 03, 2009
afuu wrote...
nice, I made a lens myself on drawing and painting and checked others who are doing it. Great.. Your squad lessons are cool. Cheers.
Posted January 15, 2009
Jimmie wrote...
Wonderful! We have begun our drawing studies in earnest. These two book recommendations are very appreciated! And I love seeing your real life examples.
Posted November 03, 2008
by HarmonyArtMom
Mom of four, twelve years of homeschooling and now two children in college, passionate about art, music, and nature study.
We use a mix of Charlotte...
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