A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Art Series

Art tells a Story

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I originally wrote this post in April of 2015 as part of a blog hop.   I am making some adaptations as it’s now more than 4 years later.

Learning how to create art in my household took some figuring, it was harder than I thought to have my lad do art with me.  Real life art for us has always needed to involve a story.  Let me expand upon that, maybe your children are the same.  🙂  Maybe they too, need to see how art tells a story.

I don’t know about you but I have a creative child.   He draws, writes, story tells and creates.   He plays minecraft and creates these little worlds that are very specific in their purpose.  “DAD!   Don’t do that in this world.   That’s not supposed to happen!”   This is a frequent cry in the afternoon.  He still plays minecraft and when he plays with his friends it’s in worlds he has created with a story line in mind.  Wouldn’t it be fun mom to live in an ice world where you need to stay within ___ feet of heat in order to survive?  Imagine how hard it would be to find or create resources!

It’s rather fascinating at times with what he creates.  One of my desires it to  create more often with my child.  Therefore, I would come up with marvelous ideas that I think might tickle his fancy.

Any thoughts on how often I am successful?

Well…absolutely NONE!  I’ve needed to realize this truth:  If I can’t sell the art as a way to tell a story, we have no art.  No story no art.  It’s just the way it rolls. 

Art Tells a Story

Finding the Story

If I can find a story, I can create the art with my lad. Not finding the story means going through the art form without actually doing art.  It has no significance for him, and therefore is a meaningless exercise.  Finding the story… even if it’s from a poem… and Voila!   We have art.

In the found these marvellous books at the library called “imagine a day”.   I would read the poem of the day to my lad.  I read it without showing him the picture.  I’d cover up the page as much as I could so I wouldn’t be influenced.  We would then each sit down and draw a picture of what the story told us. We had SO MUCH fun with these books.   When we were done we would compare our pictures with the picture in the book.  Sometimes we were quite similar to the book and to each other and other times we had good discussions on what we did and why. It was such a fun time together learning, thinking, and drawing together, letting our imaginations soar.

Art Tells a Story

An example of finding the story

Another example would be the day we worked with doing a fresca.   Here I didn’t stop to think and merely followed the instructions given. Draw lines of colour to  get used to drawing with fresca.  I was met with a complaining child “what’s the point of this mom?”  Then I turned it into a story.  What do you think might happen if we did a boat that would capsize?   How about we have a clan cat hunting for a mouse?   Suddenly my story-telling lad was full of ideas and colours he could use.

Imagine a day when art tells a story

It’s taken us time to learn something really important.  Art is story. It’s not always a readily seen story, but it always tells a story of some sort. The colours, depth, humour, lighting, solemnity, shading etc… it all tells a story. 

Use the story to create the art, let the art tell the story.   

I was recently watching a glass-blowing competition and one of the participants always had to come up with a reason, or a story, for any piece that she did.  Did she want to tell the story of her first ever cupcake, or tell of the struggle of women in the glass-blowing world, or the lost child.  What story could she tell through her glass work? This was her focus.  She did some amazing pieces. 🙂

So tell me something, how do you do art in your homeschool?   Do your children happily engage in any art opportunities that you offer them? Or are they more like my creative one… needing a story freeing them up to explore?

blog hop

Hey!  Follow The crew through this Annual Not Going Back to School homeschool blog hop!  Links of participants below

CREW @ Homeschool Review Crew – 2019 Annual Not Back to School Homeschool Blog Hop  
Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses – ABC of Homeschooling
Dawn @ Schoolin’ Swag – Adding Fun to Your Homeschool Day
Erin @ For Him and My Family – Large Family Homeschooling 
Lori @ At Home Where Life Happens – Learning Life Skills
Monique @ Mountain of Grace Homeschooling – Homeschooling the High School Years
Monique D. @ Early Learning Mom – Homeschooling With Autism
Yvie @ Homeschool On the Range – 5 Days of Upper Grades Homeschooling
Abby @ Making Room 4 One More – Time Management for Homeschool Moms 
Amanda @ Hopkins Homeschool – 5 Days of Homeschool Questions
Amy @ the WRITE Balance – Year-Round Schooling 
Annette @ A Net in Time – Homeschooling. 
Betty @ Lets Get Real – Homeschooling High School 
Cassandra @ My Blessed Mess – Eclectic Homeschooling

Kimberley @ Vintage Blue Suitcase – Roadschooling with a Teenager

Born to Draw Comics

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Who doesn’t love Snoopy and Charlie Brown and all those little people in Peanuts?  Want to meet the author behind these wonderful characters?  Born To Draw Comics is the Story of Charles Schultz. 

Born to Draw Comics

What I Am Reviewing

Born to Draw Comics: The story of Charles Schultz.
Ginger Wadsworth
Craig Orback (illustrator)
Christy Ottaviano Books
Received: softcover ARC
History, Biography, Comics, Children, Art, Children’s Art, picture book
40 Pages, full colour
Ages 4-8
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

As a child, Charles split his free time between adventures outdoors with his friends and dog Spike, and daydreams and doodles inspired by the comics he loved to read. He longed to become a professional cartoonist, but saw his dreams deferred by unexpected challenges that laid ahead: military deployment to the European front of World War II, and the heartbreak of a family tragedy back home. Even so, Charles never lost sight of the hopeful joy of his early years and his love for Spike, both of which inspired PEANUTS. The comic strip went on to become the most popular and influential in comics history.

Born to Draw Comics

The Details

Even though this book is geared to students in grades 1 & 2, I would have no hesitation recommending it to any student interested in the life of Charles Schultz.   The mixed panel format along with full colour images and a good storyline makes for an informative read. 

Born to Draw Comics

Interspersed throughout are individual images and scenes that “Sparky” Schultz drew.  The text was well done, drawing us into the life of Charles as a child. 

Born to Draw Comics

You will find yourself drawn into his story, relishing the details of what made his life what it was.  It was not always an easy life, but he had a boyhood filled with delights!  He shared those delights in his comic strip Peanuts. 

Born to Draw Comics

Should you Get it?

I really liked this book, delving into the life of Charles Schultz.  It was a joy to see his love of drawing and his wide circle of activities.  Drawing wasn’t the only thing he had going on his life, but as he put “he was born to draw comic strips”.   Born to Draw Comics is an excellent introduction into his life for sure. 

If you are studying Charles “Sparky” Shultz, or interested in learning about comic strips and their creators, Born to Draw Comics would be a good addition to your study. 

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Want to Learn Art?

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Art, it’s a wonderful part of the life don’t you find?   Today I am focusing on visual arts like drawing, painting, sculpting and what not.   Things you look at and make with your hands, feet or mouth.  🙂   Not everyone does art the same way do they?   So if you want to learn art, here are some places to go.

Want to Learn Art?

Art for Elementary School

Created by A Net in Time
Want to Learn Art?
created by A Net In Time

Art for Middle School

 

Want to Learn Art?
Created by A Net in Time

Art For High School

Book Reviews you might want to check out

I adore the 642 Things to draw series.  I’ve reviewed a few of them and think they are fantastic for inspiring conversation and imagination over an art prompt idea. You will find one review here. And another here.  Grab up a couple of drawing pages, sit down and draw.  Talk about how an art prompt inspired you.  Laugh, be amazed, and just draw.

Want to Learn Art?

Draw, Print, Paint like the Great artists continues to be a favourite of mine.  And this Zentangles book made for a really fun class at HOPE days that I would happily do again.  I had a series of How to Draw books that we used for ideas when stuck.  Fine Art Adventures was a great book as well that we have used. You must check out this Doll Crafts book as well.  So many great ideas for making dolls!  Don’t fail to check out the Get into Art Places book.  These are just a few of the great books I’ve been honoured to review. 

If you want to learn art, there are so many ways to do so.  🙂

SchoolhouseTeachers has over 20 art classes as well as many art components mixed into her other courses. Some of the teachers are Art Achieve, Jan Bower, Everyday Easels, Inkscape and Studio for Teens. Do check out their amazing deal.  $5 for a month of art?  Videos and on-line lessons.  Access wherever you go. It’s a great deal eh?  Get all your school needs met in one place. 

And do some art!

Want to Learn Some Specifics?

The Art of Gardening

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Do you recall my post from a couple of weeks ago?  I talked about what’s been keeping me busy lately?   Well seeing as it’s Wednesday I and normally (when I have arty type books) do an art post, I figured gardening is another type of an art form isn’t it?  At least the art of gardening seems real to me.

The art of Gardening

I’ve been busy moving gardens around.  They used to be vertical to the rabbitry but I found that didn’t leave me a lot of space for when I do a major clean up.  Easy for me to trip and fall.  I thought I’d move them horizontal and see how much room that left me.  TONS more room!  🙂

So here’s the old way they were set up looking out from the rabbitry.

The art of Gardening

And the new way I have them set up, again looking out from the rabbitry. 

The art of Gardening

What I’ve ended up giving myself is an extra two feet for maneuvering rabbitry items in and out.   I have goals to rearrange where the mice are, and where our pet rabbit Wafer’s cage are but that will take time, some figuring out and room to move.   That bare patch of dirt below is the room I gained, isn’t it great?

The art of Gardening

You may have noticed those white barrels.  My goal is to paint them some lovely colour (whatever is recycleable paint cans) at some point, probably not til late August for me to get that done.  These three above hold my mint.  I think it will make them more containable!  Mint spreads fast if you let it. 

The art of Gardening

Art of gardening

This is my newest bed, well okay, perhaps not my NEWEST bed, but it’s my “make me smile” bed.  Buttercups, allium, irises, lilies and daisy type flowers.  They make my heart smile when they flower.  Isn’t that what art does?  Make a heart smile?  Gardening does it for me.

And of course my metal chicken!   I have other garden things to put in here yet, but just haven’t gotten them in yet from my original perennial bed.   My mom gave me those green chickens that are hidden under a coreopsis plant.  Brilliant yellow flowers will come out in July (if this wet weather ever goes away).

The art of Gardening

I used to have a lovely BIG rooster in my perennial bed. But chicken met active boys and unfixable damage happened so I lost that lovely big rooster.  I was rather sad but accidents happen when boys are having fun, apologies happened and life moves on.  Someday I hope to replace him.   

IGNORE the weeds PLEASE!   I haven’t gotten to them yet, but do enjoy my purple allium.  Isn’t it lovely?  🙂

Behind the perennial bed I have my fruit bushes.  Gooseberry, black currant and goji berry.  I am hopeful this year to get more than TWO goji berries. They do have a lovely taste. If they don’t start producing better I’ll be getting rid of them.  I’ll give them this year and next to prove themselves. A friend told me I have berries coming, so maybe I need to yell at the squirrels and birds faster.  🙂   My red currants are on the other side of the yard.  Bigger bushes so they need more room to spread out.

Next Project

The art of Gardening

I’m actually divided on what my next project is.  The biggest part of me wants to move these three small gardens and then move the pond up two feet and three feet longer.   I’ve done a bit of research on how to make a better pond and want to put that knowledge to work. 

BUT then again, I have a front bed that needs some rather significant work on it. I’m kinda wondering if that will need to wait until the fall though.  Bushes to move, new ones to start.  If I bend down a branch and weight it on the ground I can start a new bush and kill off the old one…. the original is too close to the house. I want the bush, but not the work of digging it all up, so if I can get a new one growing then I have less work overall.   

So overall I think pond and small gardens first.  Oh that reminds me.. I need to bring my dahlias up out of the basement! 

I have convinced out bumble bee to let me move her home (hence the bare patch in-between the gardens).  She didn’t sting me when I moved her home and I’ve seen her going in and out from where I moved her hollow log too, so that was a huge YAY for me.  🙂

The art of Gardening - pond frog

This fellow here is a big part of my reason to change up our pond.  I want to make a deeper end so that we can put in water lilies and other pond plants.  I want to encourage dragonflies, water striders, frogs, toads and other such critters to come hang out. It doesn’t need to be pretty (though that would be nice) but it mostly needs to be inviting. Right now our goldfish & catfish are happy, but I want more critters.  I also love the moss growing. I have NO CLUE why, but it makes me happy so it stays. 

Did you know that SchoolhouseTeachers. com has a huge selection are gardening helps? Free organizers, copywork, colouring pages, and plant observations pages as well as member only resources for square foot gardens, raised beds, sensory gardens, designs for garden containers and so much more.  It’s remarkable the number of resources they have.  I may have my lad work through some of it to get a horticultural credit. 

schoolhouse

The New Jumbo Book of Easy Crafts

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Looking for easy to make crafts for a variety of ages?   Enter in The New Jumbo Book of Easy Crafts.  150 crafts of a wide variety to entertain and educate the children and youth in your life. 

The New Jumbo Book of Easy Crafts give you over 150 crafts to choose from.   With clear step-by-step instructions, crafts organized into four themed sections, and detailed colourful illustrations, even the littlest hands can make a big impression. 

Four sections divide up the 150 crafts provided in this book.

  • Imagine and Create
  • Wear and Use
  • Make and Play
  • Decorate and Celebrate

Imagine and Create contains crafts such as wiggling caterpillar, egg-cup chick and rock painting.   

Wear and Use gives us pasta jewelry, magic wands and decorated baskets. 

Make and Play gives us sock sacks, marble mazes, puzzles, folded frog puppets and much more. 

Decorate and Celebrate allows us to make decorated eggs, doily angels, paper cutouts and party favours. 

Clear materials lists and instructions makes the completion of each craft a breeze.  The full colour pictures put words into image helping to reinforce each step to the completion of a successful craft. 

Clear materials lists and instructions makes the completion of each craft a breeze.  The full colour pictures put words into image helping to reinforce each step to the completion of a successful craft. 

My Thoughts

I like this book!  The sheer variety of crafts available and the ease of use make this book a keeper in my eyes.  Judy Ann Sadler did an excellent job of putting these crafts together, and Caroline Price’s illustrations brought it all very much to life.   The only thing I would have liked would have been to see actual photographs of the finished craft. 

Crafts that I want to do… button puppy!  It’s too cute!  Bead buddies intrigues me for a doll class I still want to teach.  The Pom-pom bear would just be fun to give a try to, brings back memories of games I used to play with my lad. 

365 Days of Drawing

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I have got to tell you about this fantastic review book I received in the mail this week.  365 Days of Drawing.   I LOVE idea books like this.  BUT not only is this an idea book, but it also teaches as well.  How much better could it get eh!?

From the back cover

Get lost in your creativity with 365 Days of Drawing, a thoughtful and inspiring art journal designed to help you carve out moments of self-expression. Lorna shows you that drawing does not have to be scary – it can be done with any materials, in any color, in any style and can be done anywhere.

Each activity has been given a loose category: imagination, tutorial, relaxation, color theory, and observational, so that you can practice a broad range of drawing skills. Each ‘theme’ is designed to expand your creative skills and spark the artist within. With helpful prompts and pages that encourage you to try new materials to draw with, 365 Days of Drawing is guaranteed to stir your imagination and put a little creativity into every single day.

What you Get:

A fantastic resource to help you take moments every day to stir your imagination and draw something new, or learn how to express your creativity even better.   Some of the ideas are simple.  Design your own mugs, draw the perfect circle etc. 

Yet others teach: make a colour wheel, create colour blends, fill a grid with colour using matching colours, discern what colours match a mood, or figure out mood with shading.

And still others take time to work through, allowing you the freedom to learn new techniques or practice a skill.  Blend tones, change a sploch into an art form, or learn to create a 3D object.

My Thoughts

I really, really like this book.  If you are at all creative, this book will be a boon to your spirit, nudging you along, giving you great ideas to work with drawing a flock of birds, doodling your way through triangles, learning to use a gird to expand a picture, look deeply into an object and pull out all the colours you can see, draw a picture by looking into the negative space, or even draw an animal as fast as you can.   So many ideas, you are bound to find a few that appeal, or add a spark to your day. 

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Crafty Ideas From Nature

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crafty ideas from nature

Crafty Ideas from Nature is a paperback book that gives you more than 30 crafts you can make with nature as a focus.  MOST of the art projects use items you can easily collect from nature.  A few of the art projects are things you can use to decorate trees, represent nature, or are games you can play. Another in the series is crafty ideas from junk.  These books give loads of ideas to help children express their creativity in a wide variety of ways.

crafty ideas from nature

Each project is laden with pictures walking your through the steps.  Each project has a handy materials list. While this list doesn’t give you exact quantities, it gives the needed information.

crafty ideas from nature

Some of the projects are floral cat, candy cone, leaf printing, snowstorm, dried leaf owl, and feather headdress.  There are many others.   A good variety of crafts that cover a variety of age ranges, but generally I’d say from age 8 and up for most of them.

My Thoughts:

Crafty Ideas from Nature gives some great ideas to help children express their creativity using what they find in the great outdoors.  It would be an excellent addition to any nature study that you engage your students in. The ideas presented lend themselves to a variety of crafts and should stimulate your ideas, as well as ideas in the children around you. 

crafty ideas from nature

 

Crafty Ideas from Nature
Myrna Daitz
Shirley Williams
Exley Giftbooks
softcover, 48 pages

Click on image to go to Amazon.