4Real Forums: Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

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The Arts in the Everyday
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Topic: Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

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Karen T
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Joined: Feb 16 2005
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Posted: Sept 16 2005 at 2:20pm \| IP Logged

I just read this book from our library. I've always wanted to be able to draw, and would like to give my kids at least a few of the basic skills. It's amazing the differences in what students were able to draw after taking her seminars! Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone has used the video she has
Drawing on the right side of the brain
and/or the whole portfolio thing. I can certainly piece together the needed materials but wonder if it would end up cheaper to just go with her "kit". And what is the video like? Does it just go through what the book covers or is it set up like art lessons, etc.?
I've used Mona Brooke's books too and they are very good at introducing different media, etc. but I like this book better for really explaining how to really see what you're drawing.
Karen T

juliecinci
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Posted: Sept 16 2005 at 3:02pm \| IP Logged

One of my favorite books of all time!

I've never used her materials beyond the book but we have used the book... a lot! I learned to draw with just pencils and her first edition of DORSOTB. I loved every day that I took to work on her exercises.

I've done the program with most of my kids now and they are all pretty good at drawing. The older ones didn't get all the way to faces, but we did everything else.

She has another book that I love called Drawing on the Artist Within that I've used to help grow as a creative thinker. I even borrowed one of her exercises for Brave Writer and adapted another for language as opposed to visual elements.

So I don't know if you need anything more than what the book offers. I haven't done it any other way. (I do have a copy machine at home which helps.)

Julie

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Julie
Homeschooling five for fourteen years

BrendaPeter
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Posted: Sept 16 2005 at 9:52pm \| IP Logged

Hi Karen,

We went ahead and bought the portfolio & dvd this summer. I'm not sure if it was cheaper to buy the portfolio but it was much simpler than trying to track down everything. Plus with 6 kids I figured it would cost alot more paying for art lessons for all of them!

The video does re-hash the book, however, instructional dvds work really well with my kids. I don't think my explaining it to them would have been half as effective. They liked the dvd alot & looked forward to each new lesson. Our oldest is 11 & he went the farthest with it. After awhile he said everything he looked at had the crossbars going through it. I'm glad we own the dvd now since we'll be using it more than once with all of the kids. It's the type of thing you need to keep practicing so having the dvd on hand makes it more convenient.

Hope that helps!

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Brenda (mom to 6)

Karen T
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Posted: Sept 18 2005 at 8:09am \| IP Logged

Thanks for both of your comments. It does look like a great program to go through, and I'm looking forward to it as much for me as the kids! That's what I was thinking about the portfolio, that it would be a lot easier to just order than to try and find the things piecmeal.
How young would you say it would be ok to start with? My oldest is 12 and will be doing it, but the next is only 5.5 with very poor fine motor skills, so it's not for him yet, but when do you think he could start something like this? I don't want to frustrate him, but I also would love to 'bypass" that stage where they hate everything they draw b/c their left side has taken over (like my 12 yo)
Karen T

BrendaPeter
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Posted: Sept 18 2005 at 10:49am \| IP Logged

Hi Karen,

You know what it's like with big families - everyone participates in everything! Our 6 1/2-year-old twins watched too & tried a few things. I would just let your 5 1/2 year-old participate if he wants to. I did do a couple of the activities myself. Drawing Stravinsky upside-down was quite challenging, but I'm sure much easier than having to draw him right-side up! I think my dc really like when there's a teacher other than mom & mom is one of the students with them.

Overall, the program is definately for older kids, but there's no need to exclude the younger ones. I think your 12-year-old will really like it.

Just want to mention that we also use Bruce McIntyre's "The Drawing Textbook" and have used it for years. I think this program was a good supplement.

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Brenda (mom to 6)

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