Artistic Homeschooler Flying High!

Ranked #4,791 in Education, #114,782 overall

Artwork and Paintings by Natasha

It started with the crayons that I played with when I was a kid. Not only did I color inside the lines, but my folks said I made my own lines. By the time I was about 6, my folks let me go to semi-private art classes each week where, along with fellow homeschooler kids, I was able to explore watercolor, acrylics, oil, pastels, charcoal, pencil, pen & ink, and even sculpture.

We always seemed to have a few art projects going on in our house. And our refrigerator was our "gallery" (Well, some of our hallways and my bedroom walls also became parts of the "gallery").

This Squidoo lens shows a bit of the artwork I've created over the past 20 years or so. And it all started with my coloring and other artwork when my brother (who is 3 years older than I am) started being homeschooled. Then, I was homeschooled, too.

Enjoy... and I hope I've made your day brighter and have inspired you to create your own masterpieces.
Tools of the Trade (well, at least some of them)

Tools of the Trade (well, at least some of them) 

Parrot - Pen and Ink with Watercolor

Parrot - Pen and Ink with Watercolor 

Artistic talents start when young - And Tasha started very young with fingerpaints on the kitchen floor!

Artistic talents start when young - And Tasha started very young with fingerpaints on the kitchen floor! 

Natasha with two of her early paintings in an arts and crafts fair.

Natasha with two of her early paintings in an arts and crafts fair. 

Leopard Stare - Watercolor

Leopard Stare - Watercolor 

Butterfly in Watercolor

Butterfly in Watercolor 

Swan Family on a Frozen Pond

Swan Family on a Frozen Pond 

Rabbits Sharing a Dandelion

Rabbits Sharing a Dandelion 

Using Oil on Canvas-Board for a Painting of a Boat in Harbor

Using Oil on Canvas-Board for a Painting of a Boat in Harbor 

Doing Artwork Requires Tools - Here's the Stuff I Use!

Darice 79-Piece Professional Art Set

Darice 79-Piece Professional Art Set

Studio 71 deluxe art set overflows with color and more...0 points

Pentel Arts Oil Pastels, 50 Color Set (PHN-50)

Pentel Arts Oil Pastels, 50 Color Set (PHN-50)

An exciting medium for the creative mind. Brillian more...0 points

Color & Co Young Artist 68-piece Discover Box

Color & Co Young Artist 68-piece Discover Box

This colorful wood box is filled with quality art more...0 points

Royal Brush Keep N' Carry Artist Set

Royal Brush Keep N' Carry Artist Set

Use these convenient artists' kits anywhere you go more...0 points

Top Flight Sketch Pad, Heavy Back, 8.75 x 12 Inches, 50 Sheets (62301)

Top Flight Sketch Pad, Heavy Back, 8.75 x 12 Inches, 50 Sheets (62301)

This Top Flight Sketch pad is made from a high qua more...0 points

Colossal 315-pc. Art Kit

Colossal 315-pc. Art Kit

LOEW CORNELL-Colossal Art Kit. This kit is made fo more...0 points

French Style Full Box Plein Air Easel

French Style Full Box Plein Air Easel

Full Box French Style Easel...An affordable French more...0 points

Brush Bundle of 18 Hog Brushes in a Canvas Brush Holder

Brush Bundle of 18 Hog Brushes in a Canvas Brush Holder

Economy Brush Bundle... An unbeatable deal. Beginn more...0 points

Lightweight Aluminum Easel with Travel Bag

Lightweight Aluminum Easel with Travel Bag

Lightweight Aluminum Easel with Travel BagThis eas more...0 points

Bob Ross Master Paint Set master paint set

Bob Ross Master Paint Set master paint set

This set by TV host Bob Ross guides you through a more...0 points

Darice 131-Piece Premium Art Set with Wood Box

Darice 131-Piece Premium Art Set with Wood Box

This Arty Facts Set overflows with color and creat more...0 points

ProArt 18 Piece Drawing & Sketch Set

ProArt 18 Piece Drawing & Sketch Set

18 Piece Drawing & Sketch Set...This is a supe more...0 points

21 Pc Sketch & Drawing Set W/pencils, Charcoals,erasers

21 Pc Sketch & Drawing Set W/pencils, Charcoals,erasers

These quality drawing pencils are equally capable of more...0 points

International Migratory Bird Day Poster Competition, Alviso Nature Center, California 1999

International Migratory Bird Day Poster Competition, Alviso Nature Center, California 1999 

Migratory Bird - Red Phalarope - Watercolor

Migratory Bird - Red Phalarope - Watercolor 

In Addition to being Allowed to Play with Art, I was Exposed to Other Artists and Their Work!

An early water-color painting of a cheetah -- using only warm colors and black.Our house always has had art supplies in abundance -- crayons, paints, brushes, pens, charcoals, pencils, paper, canvases, and lots of photography (my Dad is a photography nut). And as kids, my brother and I were encouraged to draw and paint for all of our lessons -- whether it was for science, history, geography, social studies, and even our foreign language and math classes (math, in particular geometry, teaches about shapes such as rectangles, triangles, ovals, elipses, and polyhedrons... and so on).

After a few years of having art classes, my folks would take us to art galleries, art shows, and art fairs... where we could see and visit with the artists as well as see a wide variety of works in oils, pastels, charcoals, acrylics, and watercolors. In a "fieldtrip" to Carmel, we visted a bunch of galleries and met an artist in her studio/gallery while she was working on a large oil painting. It was fascinating to talk to her while she was working. My folks were talking to her, but I was watching what she was doing on the canvas while she was talking. We signed her guest book before we left for home.

Because she had our mailing address from her guest book, she'd send us a quarterly newsletter talking about her new paintings and prints. Then, one of the newsletters mentioned she'd be holding a seminar in Carmel on her painting style techniques. The seminar was pricey and because I was very young, my folks wondered if I'd be able to get enough out of the seminar to make it worth it. Then, another follow-up letter from the artist said that she'd have videos of the seminar available as well. So my folks bought the video instruction set--so I could play them over and over to get the technique right and I could replay them to check my work and to better learn exactly how she did stuff. I still have that video set. I may still take it out and watch it again for refresher and to maybe pick up more ideas.
Palomino in Field at Fence in Acrylics

Palomino in Field at Fence in Acrylics 

Summer Field of Flowers

Summer Field of Flowers 

Geisha - Acrylics

Geisha - Acrylics 

Working on the detail of a Great Lakes biplane

Working on the detail of a Great Lakes biplane 

Starting on a painting of a Mooney single-prop aircraft

Starting on a painting of a Mooney single-prop aircraft 

Painting of a Mooney single-prop aircraft, almost finished

Painting of a Mooney single-prop aircraft, almost finished 

Starting to fill in the gaps on my painting of a Pitts biplane

Starting to fill in the gaps on my painting of a Pitts biplane 

Work still in progress - Detail and Closeup of a Classic Car

Work still in progress - Detail and Closeup of a Classic Car 

I work as an operations manager at a flight-training school. So I'm around airplanes all day...

This may be the reason why I like painting airplanes!

Natasha Posing in Front of a Pitts Biplane Before a FlightBut I also like to draw animals, landscapes, flowers, and other things.... even portraits, but people are hard to get right when it comes to colors and proportions (but I'm working on it).

I've had fish, a hamster, a guinea pig, a rabbit, and a dog for pets... and they've also inspired my artwork.

My travels to both Europe (France) and the Asian Pacific (Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, Philippines, Hong Kong, Guam, Hawaii) have also influenced my artwork.
Working on a Monochrome Painting of a New York City Street Scene

Working on a Monochrome Painting of a New York City Street Scene 

If You Don't Have Tutoring or Training Classes or Services...

Then maybe you can enjoy these video instructions!

Although taking art classes is a good way to learn and interact with other artists, having the video instruction is helpful in that you can play them over and over--and in particular those parts that are complicated or vague. By playing the videos over and over, you are maximizing the value of the instruction in the video. It's convenient and isn't tied to a rigid class schedule that might interfere with other events.
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Happy Palette

Happy Palette

3 DVD set, 90 minutes of information on my palette more...0 points

The Dance of Watercolor: Beginners and Beyond

The Dance of Watercolor: Beginners and Beyond

This easy to follow step-by-step DVD is ideally su more...0 points

Watercolor in Motion: How to Create Powerful Paintings, Step by Step (Book & DVD) by Birgit Oconnor

Watercolor in Motion: How to Create Powerful Paintings, Step by Step (Book & DVD) by Birgit Oconnor

Painting wet-into-wet is one of the most popular yet more...0 points

BOB ROSS JOY OF PAINTING SERIES: 3-HOUR WORKSHOP DVD English

BOB ROSS JOY OF PAINTING SERIES: 3-HOUR WORKSHOP DVD English

It s your own private class with the legendary Bob more...0 points

BOB ROSS JOY OF PAINTING SERIES: SEASCAPE COLLECTION (13 half hour Instructional Guides)

BOB ROSS JOY OF PAINTING SERIES: SEASCAPE COLLECTION (13 half hour Instructional Guides)

It s your own private class with the legendary Bob more...0 points

BOB ROSS JOY OF PAINTING SERIES: Nine One Hour Instuctional Guides - 10 DVD Set

BOB ROSS JOY OF PAINTING SERIES: Nine One Hour Instuctional Guides - 10 DVD Set

It s your own private class with the legendary Bob more...0 points

Bob Ross: Joy of Painting - Barns Collection

Bob Ross: Joy of Painting - Barns Collection

It's your own private class with the legendary Bob more...0 points

Daniel Green Oil Painting New DVD Format: Erin

Daniel Green Oil Painting New DVD Format: Erin

This comprehensive instructional DVD from Daniel Greene more...0 points

Building a Portrait- DVD with Steve Carpenter

Building a Portrait- DVD with Steve Carpenter

Follow along with Steve Carpenter in this 3 hour 4 more...0 points

Yes, I like painting aircraft.... maybe it's because I spend a lot of time around them?

Yes, I like painting aircraft.... maybe it's because I spend a lot of time around them? 

Homeschooling Links You Might Find Helpful

Homeschooling - It's an Adventure!
This Squidoo lens describes one family's experiences with homeschooling and provides resources, links, and photos that help to explain their views on this experience.
The Homeschool Club on Facebook
Learn how to make your own web pages about your favorite homeschooling stories and resources. We're all gathered in the Facebook group.
Not only a high-flying artist, but also a martial artist - now a black-belt in Tae Kwon Do!

Not only a high-flying artist, but also a martial artist - now a black-belt in Tae Kwon Do! 

Create your own collection of Squidoo lenses by starting here!

Just click on the icon below -- it's easy, it's fast, and best of all, it's FUN!

Squid graphic courtesy of Squidoo Squid Graphics For Your Lenses! by GreekGeek.

Trying to Draw Some Comments... Do You Have Any?

Thanks for reading!

  • SereneSea Feb 26, 2011 @ 11:17 pm | delete
    It is so wonderful and soothing to enjoy and observe art, your paintings are so good they look heavenly.
  • HarmonyArtMom Jan 23, 2011 @ 8:22 pm | delete
    Really nice lens...I am a homeschooling mom who has a 17 year old pilot in training artist. He loved seeing your stuff too. He has some Squidoo lenses here: http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/HawkerTyphoon

    I am adding to my favorites and blessing.
    ***Blessed by an Angel***
  • tandemonimom Jan 20, 2011 @ 3:30 pm | delete
    LOVE this story! My 15yo daughter is also working to become a mostly self-taught artist.

    I am collecting homeschool success stories just like this one, which is now a featured lens on Homeschool Success Stories.

P.S. What is The Homeschool Club?

THE HOMESCHOOL CLUB is real parents and kids sharing their best resources for great homeschooling. Each day we celebrate learning by opening doors to a world of creativity, knowledge and discovery. In the car, at the kitchen sink, and down by the frog pond - the whole world is our classroom and we explore it with creative projects, games, and activities. This club is a place to share, organize, and discuss how and what we learn in the world. Make a free page to tell your own homeschooling story and share your favorite resources. We can't wait to hear from you!

by

EditorDave

If you need editorial help, please see my Dad's blog at .
My Dad helped me out with this Squidoo lens to provide sort of a "gallery"...
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Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

Drawing is a Natural Ability - This Book Helps You To Nurture It! 

The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: A Course in Enhancing Creativity and Artistic Confidence

Amazon Price: $16.04 (as of 06/03/2012)Buy Now

This book has some inspirational ideas on how to get the artistic side of you out in the open. You'll be surprised at how your artwork can improve when you use the techniques discussed in this book!

Getting started early with art helps with the progress to better art later! 

Dynamic Art Projects for Children: Includes Step-by-step Instructions And Photographs

Amazon Price: $24.94 (as of 06/03/2012)Buy Now

My folks encouraged me to start drawing and coloring when I was old enough to hold a crayon ... and they bought rolls of butcher paper from the local moving company (the paper used to wrap glassware) as a cheap thing to draw and color on. Just spread the paper on the kitchen or living room or bedroom floor and color to your heart's content! Lots of room for lots of practice!