The Hubs is the natural artist...well, to be more accurate, he is the PAID artist...a Senior Art Director for a local advertising firm, to be exact. And Me?? I'm more of a CRAFTS kind o' girl. In fact, I'm such a crafting mama, that the Hubs designed a crafting studio in the attic of our house just for little ol' me. An inviting, warm space to create...in buttercream yellow! Give me some scrapbook paper, a stash of fabric scraps, and a glue gun and watch out!
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BUT...
When it comes to choosing creative endeavors for our homeschool, I come out of my crafting studio, rub off whatever ARTistic talent I can from my husband, and set to work making a mess of my dining room table in an attempt to teach my children the fine art of FINE ARTS. No crafts welcome! (I am currently using Usborne's Complete Book of Art Ideas
for inspiration and filling in with some wonderful Pinterest projects.)
And why, you ask? What's the difference? Crafts...Art? Isn't it the same thing?
To find out, be sure to head over to Hip Homeschool Moms where I am sharing my opinion of the Process over Product GREAT ART DEBATE.
I am a crafty person too. In fact I worked for Crayola's flagship store in MD when it opened as a birthday party coordinator and art studio staff memeber. Now I am trying to teach my daughter some art lessons that make a impression other than being fun. I am part of a cyberschool but art only last for half a year. I want to continue but I am not a art person. Thanks for making me feel that I am not alone. Lines, shape and color makes no sense to me but I am trying. Now I am trying to find crafting and art lessons for our summer lessons, Little House in the Summer. ( Based on the Larua Ingalls Wilder books) That should be fun to plan. :P
ReplyDeleteCrayola store? Fun! Don't worry, I'm not an art person too. But since perfection is NEVER the goal, my simple efforts work out just fine.
DeleteI love your idea of using the Usborne art book. What ages do you think it's appropriate for? On their website it says 9+ but some reviews I found on Amazon said they use with their preschoolers?!?! I have a 6 year old who loves crafting, art, etc. I think he would love different ideas like this but can't find a copy to actually look at without buying first. Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteEvery child needs the freedom to create what they want to create. Every child should have a space to make what they want to make with the materials they want to use -- kind of like Butter Cream Yellow Rooms For All! It's not one or or the other -- not "art lessons" or "free art opportunity" -- but if it's got to be one or the other, go for free art. My two daughters have uncovered individual passions by having the opportunity. Different from each other and things I would have never lesson planned.
ReplyDeleteI think open-ended crafts are wonderful and are really more like art than craft. Those types of crafts allow kids to create.
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