Drawing Textbook

I really love art. It is funny, though, because I grew up absolutely terrified of it. I was convinced by the time I hit middle school that I couldn't possibly do anything even remotely artsy. I drew and drew as a young child, but during those awkward middle years, something changed. Perhaps someone said something rude. I don't remember. All I knew is that I could. not. draw.

And I didn't. Until I was married and on a whim, signed up for a college art class. Oh my, did I have fun. I often went early and left late, just to get in some extra time working with the teacher. And, at the end of the year, she actually bought one of my projects! Wow. I had forgotten about that until just now. Anyway, that opened up so much for me. I still am no great artist and I really have to work to draw and don't even ask me to draw from life because that is HARD. But, I enjoy it.

My kids were totally stuck in their drawing. They had been drawing the exact same stick people with circles for mouths that they drew at the age of 4. I tried in vain to get them to draw what they saw and not what they "knew". I wanted them to see that we don't actually have circles for mouths, nor do our arms look like sticks, etc. I knew we needed drawing lessons, but I didn't know where to start.

One day, I stumbled across a post on Baker's Dozen about Drawing Textbook. I placed my order and have been so happy with the lessons. When we first started, we flipped through the book and the kids started screaming that they could never do those later lessons. We just finished the book today. And, I'm happy to report that they have done wonderfully. I'm not sending them to art school just yet, but they've developed so much in their abilities. And, I've had so much fun going along for the ride.

Meagan's creations:
Caleb's creations:
And a few of my own:
Fun, fun, fun!