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AnaB
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| Posted: Aug 12 2005 at 6:21pm | IP Logged
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We are using a WONDERFUL art history program called Adventures in Art by David Quine. We did our first lesson today. All week long we've been looking at Madonna and Child on a Curved Throne by unknown artist. Today we talked about the importance of symbolism in byzantine art and then I let them look at the picture for a while. I then asked them to draw their impressions of the picture from memory. I emphasized that I was NOT looking for perfection or details, but just what they remember.
My children are 9, 7, and 7. The boys are the youngest. First one son cried and said he can't draw and that this was too hard. I just kept encouraging him and told him there was no wrong picture, in fact, our pictures may be quite funny when we are done and compare them to the original. He took courage and came up with something. I drew my own picture beside him.
My other son, who is artistic and a perfectionist, just cried and cried. He would not draw anything. I quickly sketched very lightly an outline for him to fill in. He would not draw and kept saying he couldn't remember what the picture looked like. I gave them extra chances to look at the picture again, but to no avail. After half an hour, I just let him be finished with no picture drawn. I did stress that I wasn't looking for details or an exact replica, but he would not put anything to paper.
That made our tea time that I had planned, to run into dinner. I couldn't find my handbook for the classical music study we were going to do. Then a long distance phonecall interrupted my short reading on byzantine art explaining the picture. This was just a paragraph and in very friendly vocabulary. They did seem to enjoy what we talked about. We never got to the classical music.
My day was a flop. Any suggestions? More than any pictures or appreciation for fine art, I want my childrens' hearts. I want them to feel loved and for them to feel safe to blossom. I also want them to be obedient. I'm not sure what to do with this. I'm taking it to the Lord. I'd love any suggestions!
I love fine arts.
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His By Grace, AnaB blessed WIFE to Jeff and mama to 4 blessings!
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AnaB
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| Posted: Aug 12 2005 at 6:27pm | IP Logged
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Ah! In researching art study the CM way, I see that I don't have to ask them to draw the picture from memory but to DESCRIBE it from memory! Is that right?
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His By Grace, AnaB blessed WIFE to Jeff and mama to 4 blessings!
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Karen T
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| Posted: Aug 14 2005 at 11:14pm | IP Logged
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You might want to have them describe it to you on several different days after looking at it (they will probably add more and more details each time) and then ask them if they want to try and draw it. But appreciating art (noticing details) and drawing are two entirely different subjects IMO. Hopefully, after lots of immersion in fine art and practice at noticing details, they will desire to draw what they see, but even if they never do they can still love looking at it.
Karen T
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Karen E.
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| Posted: Aug 15 2005 at 8:30am | IP Logged
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AnaB wrote:
My day was a flop. Any suggestions? More than any pictures or appreciation for fine art, I want my childrens' hearts. I want them to feel loved and for them to feel safe to blossom. I also want them to be obedient. |
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Oh, Ana,
Here's a hug.  I know that feeling ... you've planned and prepared and you're excited about sharing the beauty of the world with your kids and suddenly they act as if you've tied them up and are torturing them. 
Well, taking the tears into account, my best advice is to let the drawing go for now, possibly for a long time. Some people will never feel comfortable drawing. I'm guessing that your kids felt frustrated and inadequate to the task. They just felt too intimidated. I'm sure it was that, and not disobedience.
I used to struggle with this with my oldest daughter. I made grand plans and she fell apart as I tried to implement them. Over time, we've adjusted to one another's learning and teaching styles, but it has taken time, and it's an ongoing process.
As far as exposing them to fine art, I like to surround the kids with paintings and music I love. They know, for example, that Van Gogh is a favorite of mine, because of the prints around the house. They know I like to listen to Bach, because that's what they see and hear me do. I rely heavily on CM's idea of "an atmosphere" for fine arts, when the kids are young, because I think it makes sense -- kids absorb that with which they live.
We also read biographies of great artists and composers (Mike Venezia's books are great fun). And I look for projects that will be interesting and fun and will reinforce something about the artist. For example, one thing we did last year was to look at Van Gogh's "Bedroom of Arles" and then we made our own pictures of either (I gave them the choice) a recreation of Van Gogh's painting, their own room, or their "ideal room." They both chose to create their ideal room, and the results were delightful.
Immerse them in fine art, take them along with you as you indulge your interest in it, and they will begin to care about it, too.
Here are some fun art websites that might help:
http://www.mikevenezia.com
http://www.edbydesign.com
http://www.eduweb.com/pintura/ (A Pintura, Art Detective)
http://www.momes.net/coloriages/ (color in masterpieces)
http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/museumkids.htm
http://kids.joslyn.org/
And give yourself a break -- your day wasn't a flop. You learned what does and doesn't work very well at this stage ... that's worth something. 
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God bless,
Karen E.
mom to three on earth, and several souls in God's care
Visit my blog, with its shockingly clever title, "Karen Edmisten."
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MicheleQ
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| Posted: Aug 15 2005 at 12:37pm | IP Logged
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AnaB wrote:
| Ah! In researching art study the CM way, I see that I don't have to ask them to draw the picture from memory but to DESCRIBE it from memory! Is that right? |
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Yes Ana that's right. Check out the Mater Amabilis notes on picture study for more detail.
Take heart. I know the feeling of plans going awry. Comsider it a lesson learned (for you  ) and don't be afraid to try agin.
God bless!
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Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
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juliecinci
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| Posted: Aug 15 2005 at 2:10pm | IP Logged
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Hey I just saw this thread. Too coincidental. I just posted tips for learning to appreciate art on my Brave Writer Blog
I learned early that my kids didn't enjoy reproducing the artwork in their own materials (I only have one kid who enjoyed that). They liked narrating though and they especially enjoyed the treasure hunt of looking for the paintings in the postcard pack in the museum itself.
Hope that helps!
Julie
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Julie
Homeschooling five for fourteen years
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: Aug 15 2005 at 7:46pm | IP Logged
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Our family doesn't formally study fine arts and classical music on the same day. You may have better luck focusing on one at a time (or do your art study while having music from the same period playing in the background) and giving yourself lots of extra time so that you don't feel rushed. Afternoons and weekends work well for us.
Also, some children are more comfortable not drawing a replica and are comfortable drawing their impression. But some children, especially at your children's ages, really want to draw a replica and are frustrated if their work looks "babyish."
I give you a big applause  for wanting to bring the fine arts to life for your children. Keep up the great effort and you'll all be blessed!
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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Willa
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| Posted: Aug 16 2005 at 10:50am | IP Logged
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Ana,
My kids never liked drawing reproductions either. They could see the difference between their efforts and the original.
My sons do like describing a picture and trying to figure out what it is about.
A couple of activities that I've heard suggested: (1) is looking at the picture for a few minutes and then turning it over and trying to describe all the details you can (2) is making a "block" sketch of the picture -- that is, accuracy in drawing is not important, just placing shapes where the corresponding shapes are in the picture.
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Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
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4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Topic: OUR DISASTER FINE ARTS DAY!
