Youth Art Month is a nationwide celebration in March! Though sometimes overlooked, art is a great addition to any homeschool. You may not consider yourself a particularly artistic person, but there are many options to include some form of art in your child’s daily or weekly schedule. Indeed, this month is a great time to try some new things and your child may find a new passion!
What is Youth Art Month?
Youth Art Month was started in 1961 by The Art & Creative Materials Institute (ACMI). It was then called Children’s Art Month and began with the purpose of creating an interest in and desire for elementary-aged students to pursue the visual arts. In 1969, the event expanded to include students of all ages, and the name was changed to Youth Art Month.
The Council for Art Education (CFAE) was created in 1984 to continue advocating for visual arts education, and they coordinate Youth Art Month events nationwide. Visual arts include:
- painting
- drawing
- sculpture
- ceramics
- photography
- filmmaking
- comics
- design
- architecture…and more!
5 Ways to Celebrate Youth Art Month
Indeed, there are so many ways one can celebrate Youth Art Month. Of course, homeschooling means even more opportunities for your children to dive into and experience all there is to offer in the art world! Here are a few recommendations on where to start:
Study Art History
Naturally, when we think of artists, many of our minds go to famous painters like Van Gogh, Picasso, da Vinci, Monet, and more. In fact, Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, but he was also an extremely accomplished architect and sculptor as well, creating such works as the statue of David, Moses, St. Paul, and many others.
Of course, one doesn’t need to look so far into the past to find amazing artists though. Indeed, there are many incredible modern artists, such as Ansel Adams (photographer), Georgia O’Keeffe (painter), Banksy (street artist), Jeff Koons (contemporary sculptor), Andy Warhol (pop artist), Jackson Pollack (abstract expressionist painter), and so many more.
First, have your homeschool student choose a famous artist and research them. When did they live? What did they paint or design or sculpt? What’s their most famous piece of art? Which of their pieces is your child’s favorite? Why? The possibilites are endless. Go as deep as you want!
Also, if you have a high school student, consider signing them up for an online elective like Time4Learning‘s Intro to Art or Art History for a more in-depth study!
Make a Collaborative Art Project
Have your children create an art project! They can work together to decide the medium they’ll use, the subject, and who does what. Naturally, this will be a great way to include your children of all ages as they practice listening, build teamwork skills, and bring their own dose of creativity to the table.
Of course, if you don’t have more than one child or you want to add to the collaboration, include some neighborhood or other homeschool friends!
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Visit an Art Museum
Indeed, what better way to excite your kids about art than to experience it first-hand? Of course, visiting a museum would be the best option, but if you don’t have an art museum nearby, there are many virtual tours your kids can take.
Explore Different Types of Art
Is there a specific medium that interests your children? Are your kids disinterested or unsure as to which types of art they might enjoy? Give them options to try! First, let them experiment with different mediums. They might just discover a hidden talent. Here are a
few things you can easily incorporate into your homeschool.
- Sketching/Drawing
- Painting
- Charcoal/Pastels
- Pottery class
- Sculpting with clay
Host a Family or Neighborhood Art Night
Gather some friends and family together for some artistic fun. Start by planning an evening with drinks, finger foods, and friends, and host a step-by-step painting or drawing night. If course, if you don’t have someone who can lead the project, there are many options online that you can pull up on your smart TV or project on a wall and everyone can follow along.
Homeschool Art Project Suggestions
While you can find a plethora of ideas for art projects on the internet, here are a few suggestions for different ages. Let us know your favorite or if you use one to celebrate Youth Art Month in your homeschool!
Paint Like Pollock:
Earlier, we mentioned Jackson Pollock, an American painter known for his “drip technique.” In fact, instead of painting using an easel, he painted on a horizontal surface so he could cover the area from all angles. Of course, your young kids are sure to love painting like Pollock! First, gather your “canvas” (white butcher paper, white bed sheet, etc.) and then tack the edges to the ground. Then, once your canvas is secured, prepare your paints and painting materials – brushes, sticks, trowels, whatever you want to use, and begin! Perfect for all ages!
Practice Pointillism:
Pointillism is a painting technique that uses small paint dots to create a picture. Q-Tips work perfectly to achieve this style and while all ages can practice pointillism. In fact, using the
Q-Tips is a great way to work on fine motor skills in your little ones! So, gather your canvas, paints, Q-tips, choose your subject, and paint your picture!
Draw a Self-Portrait:
Naturally, a great way to enter the world of portraits is to use the half-and-half method. First, print off a picture of your child in black and white, cut it in half vertically, and paste it to the canvas (whether you’re using an actual canvas or another material, such as thick sketch paper). Then your child can then draw the other half of their portrait using pencils. Indeed, this is a good project for developing skills in shading and proportions and is best for ages 10 and up.
Create a Pop Art Sculpture:
Pop Art is a really fun art style. A great idea to use these skills is to create a 3d Pop Art sculpture of an old-school TV using a shoe box. The shoebox lid becomes the television frame by cutting a rectangular hole in the lid.
First, your child can choose what scene they want to create, add a background, then draw or paint the main characters or items that will be on the screen, cut them out, and paste them standing up inside the shoebox. Then, draw, cut out, and paste knobs on the front of the TV frame (or use buttons, pom poms, etc), and use pipe cleaners to add an antenna on top.
Of course, Pop Art uses lots of bright colors and is always fun to create! As this project is more detailed, it would be best for students ages 12 and up.
Videos for Additional Art Inspiration
This channel, Tate Kids, is full of great videos all about art and art history!
Draw Yourself as a Peanuts Character with this fun video!
Art for Kids Hub is another great channel with many, many videos encouraging your budding artist, no matter their age or skill level!
This Ted Talk on the importance of children’s art is a great listen for homeschool moms and dads!
Naomi White
Naomi White graduated with her B.S. in Christian Elementary Education and went on to earn her Early Childhood Education certification. She has taught preschool and elementary school in both Christian and public schools. She loves to read and write, is a pastor’s wife and stay-at-home mom, and is eagerly awaiting the day her son is old enough for them to start their own homeschool journey. Originally a Georgia girl, Naomi currently lives in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina with her family.
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