Fine Art and the Homeschooling Mother

Art is a tricky thing to teach. Most likely this is because I am by no means artistic. In spite of my short comings, it is still necessary to include an art program in our homeschooling. Since my kids are only in Kindergarten and 2nd grade, it is not necessary that I teach them about fine Italian art or even bad Italian art for that matter, which is a huge relief since I don't know anything about art history. People always tell you that majoring in Art History in college is a waste of time. If only I had known then what I know now.

Burdened with this degree in social sciences, I pressed on.Then I had a moment of creative genius. Instead of buying cute color coded binders for my kids for school, I bought them plain white ones.Then I gave them each a white piece of paper and a few crayons (few crayons: 476) and said, "Draw whatever you want." I'm not the kind of parent that wants to inhibit their child's creativity with things like actual artistic structure. Pft.

What happens when you give a child free creative reign? Be prepared to be awed and amazed.

Look at the curve of the rainbow, the wave of the ocean and the graininess of the sand. Feels a little like you're there, doesn't it?

Adding a splash of color to his beach front property, Anthony is joined by Nemo. Very realistic.

Of course, once their binders were decorated, they noticed how bland my plain white binder was. I had not anticipated that they would want me to draw something. Mallory was ruthless, asking at every turn when I would decorate my binder. I tried to distract her. I cried, faked injury and joined the circus briefly. But then I realized that it was my binder, and I am a grown woman and can do whatever I want to it.

My kids call him, "Creepy Trent." Mallory insists his eyes follow her everywhere she goes, and I'm O.K. with that. Actually I'm thinking this might be the best decision I've made all year.