Topic: Interesting children to draw / paint
jaish's photo
Wed 08/25/21 09:18 PM
Edited by jaish on Wed 08/25/21 09:43 PM


What would interest children to draw, sketch / paint?

Any ideas beyond school contests are welcome.

(Nothing against these contests except that the themes appear to be contrived. This year’s theme here, was ‘Peace in Space’ for 10 to 15 year old(s) )

Tom4Uhere's photo
Thu 08/26/21 07:51 AM
Children will draw naturally. Usually doodles.
If you are talking about your own children (personally in you life)
you can try buying some materials and wrapping them as a gift.
A decent quality sketch pad with good paper, a few charcoal pencils and a gum eraser.

For painting, start with simple water colors and see if they have talent in that.
If they do, move them up to simple oils.
Include a materials handbook on how to do certain techniques and proper care and storage of their materials.

You could introduce them to chalks and later pastels moving up to oil pastels after they express an interest.

Part of the discipline can also include providing an art environment for them.
Have some art coffee table books and take them to art exhibits and art museums to gauge their interest.

Praise their efforts and offer them advice on techniques to correct mistakes.
Often when kids draw people the proportions are off. Fore-shortening is usually off as well.
Pick up some books on drawing people, animals and fore-shortening. Make sure they have a lot of pictures they can study.
There are also many youtube video tutorials for drawing animals and people.

Also, try not to dismiss cartooning as a creative outlet. Lots of kids love drawing cartoon characters.
When I started, I focused on lettering and patterns. I found my passion in abstracts. I don't draw still-life well.

Try to remember artistic talent is personal and unique. Yes there are established techniques and methods which differ for different mediums but those are guidelines only.
The important thing is to get your child to express what they need to express as they want to express it. Many famous artists use their own methods and mediums.

Artistic expression is not limited to visual.
If drawing and painting is not their thing, they may be sculptors, poets or musicians at heart. Perhaps they have talents related to computer graphics or matte painting.
Try not to limit their creativity to styles you like. Its your job as a parent to allow your child to find their own interests to express. They can only find their own expression if you show them a full range of ways to express themselves.

Tom4Uhere's photo
Thu 08/26/21 08:11 AM
How to Draw Baby Animals for Kids (Baby Deer)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xMdkk9Qnvg

How To: Draw Face | Easy Beginner Proportion Tutorial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT5zBXuKO3I

Drawing the Human Figure! - Proportions - Tutorial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4oPH0FMEB8

Drawing Animals for Beginners - Part 1 - Structure & Form
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA77noU56_8

Drawabox Lesson 5, Drawing Animals: Drawing Animal Heads
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMvT04OKBMQ

How to Draw in Perspective for Beginners
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn_0wEwZNEU

How To Draw Figures in Perspective
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub19UehR8rc

I'm focusing on drawing techniques because in most cases, to paint one must usually draw it first (as a guide).

If you learn the techniques it will be easier for you to help your child (especially if they are too young to watch and understand the videos).





jaish's photo
Thu 08/26/21 12:51 PM

Thanks Tom. That's a lot of info - fills gaps.

My question was more on how to incentivize older children (10 to 15) to sketch landscapes / ideas; apart from drawing contests and visiting art galleries --> welcoming artists here to share their story. (Personally, my interest in Art is regrettably a little late.)

TxsGal3333's photo
Thu 08/26/21 01:00 PM
It is a talent that one has from birth or picks it up..

My oldest grand daughter started drawing and coloring when she was little.. She just started college this year. Her Major is Art Teacher she wants to teach Art in High School..

She amazes me with her drawings...

Kids that are given the tools to learn while young at times just seem to pick it up.. others may not.. Hard to say what makes one draw..

I do good drawing stick figures lol so not sure where she got her Talent..

jaish's photo
Thu 08/26/21 08:20 PM
Edited by jaish on Thu 08/26/21 08:27 PM

Hi, TxsGal,
My oldest granddaughter started drawing and coloring when she was little..


There used to be on the inside covers of children’s notebooks what is. ‘connect the dots’; and if the child was successful he would uncover a picture of a ‘turtle treading on while rabbit was napping in the shade’. Most children, delight after uncovering such puzzles and are not particularly interested in following up with coloring.

I think there’s an age for:
i. coloring, age 7 / Class 1
ii. Connecting dots, age 8
iii. B & W Sketching with one’s own imagination, age 9 / Class 3

I don’t think schools conduct any sketching classes. They shift attention to geometry instead which in my opinion is a mistaken compromise! If instead of taking pictures with cell phones, kids, through ages 10 to 15, could take up painting, maybe on Coral software, that would be something?







SparklingCrystal 💖💎's photo
Fri 08/27/21 04:18 AM
Edited by SparklingCrystal 💖💎 on Fri 08/27/21 04:34 AM
We learnt about colours in the 1st class of secondary school. This circle with separate sections. A colour wheel that we had to paint in and the colour had to be exactly right. Some had to be mixed.
It was good, although I hated having to paint inside the lines of a small section with a brush.

I think we also learnt about depth, perspective, and how to create that. It was something like drawing an X on the paper, the centre being your focal point in the distance of a drawing. The lines of the X were used for the top/bottom of objects/buildings so the perspective was created. I have used that technique later when a young adult.

Drawing objects that are in the classroom, and allowing kids to choose. So have maybe 4 different ones.

In the last & 4th class of secondary school one of our class mates had to pose and the rest had to draw him within -if memory serves- 10 minutes.
I got the best grade of all, hihi. And my drawing was entered for the school's annual exhibition as well. I was VERY happy!!
But it was a lot of fun to do!

Having kids take photos is also good provided you give them the right assignment. You can easily relate it to drawing class. For instance instruct to make a clear close up of a certain colour, or a certain object like a flower, an insect etc.
Or something they like, but one object only, that they then have to draw/paint in class.
I think it would be wonderful to incorporate what kids like to use in class.
Having been a teach at secondary school myself, you've got to think with the pupils and tune into what has their interest, not think like a school curriculum only. You got to get creative without deviating too much from the school's demands otherwise you get yourself in trouble as a teach.

Landscapes... if school allows it take them outdoors to a specific place and have them sketch it.
This can also be buildings when they're a wee bit older and educated in perspective.
If not allowed one can work with photos on a large screen. Have 'em choose a landscape they have to draw.

SparklingCrystal 💖💎's photo
Fri 08/27/21 04:35 AM
Oh, and always bear in mind that some kids just do not like painting/drawing as it's just not their thing. This is the case with each subject.

jaish's photo
Fri 08/27/21 08:05 PM
Thanks for sharing, Crystal!

I couldn’t believe the ‘X’ perspective technique could be transferred to children; but Wikihow convinced me. For the benefit of others:

https://www.wikihow.com/Draw-Perspective

Class 4 story: Interesting, both in terms of Talent search in 10 mins and painting as a way to increase social awareness levels among children. (This is what I was looking for)


Having kids take photos is also good provided you give them the right assignment. You can easily relate it to drawing class. For instance instruct to make a clear close up of a certain colour, or a certain object like a flower, an insect etc.
Or something they like, but one object only, that they then have to draw/paint in class.


From photos to painting - a ‘big Yes’ from children.



tune into what has their interest ...

and the bigger boys carrying a guilty look (?)

landscape

Sunrise in class 2 and monsoon (water cycle) in class 4. This is story in Indian schools. We need more themes.
----


Great write! Thank you!






jaish's photo
Fri 08/27/21 09:31 PM
How about schools holding classes in digital art, say in class 7 or 8 (as because) from 9, students here prepare for board exams.

Of course not everyone here can afford Tabs but what if?

(just an after thought)

SparklingCrystal 💖💎's photo
Sat 08/28/21 02:07 AM

Thanks for sharing, Crystal!

I couldn’t believe the ‘X’ perspective technique could be transferred to children; but Wikihow convinced me. For the benefit of others:

https://www.wikihow.com/Draw-Perspective

Class 4 story: Interesting, both in terms of Talent search in 10 mins and painting as a way to increase social awareness levels among children. (This is what I was looking for)


Having kids take photos is also good provided you give them the right assignment. You can easily relate it to drawing class. For instance instruct to make a clear close up of a certain colour, or a certain object like a flower, an insect etc.
Or something they like, but one object only, that they then have to draw/paint in class.


From photos to painting - a ‘big Yes’ from children.



tune into what has their interest ...

and the bigger boys carrying a guilty look (?)

landscape

Sunrise in class 2 and monsoon (water cycle) in class 4. This is story in Indian schools. We need more themes.
----
Great write! Thank you!

You're welcome!

And what's the difficulty with more landscape themes? Just give 'em more. Like I said, let them choose.
And doing mountains can be interesting. Esp when most don't know mountains. I don't know mountains really as my country is almost as flat as a pancake. Painting mountains is a real challenge for me!
Watching Bob Ross do it makes it seem so easy. Try it! Pffff, haha.

When it comes to painting that could also be an idea, for the somewhat older ones, like 14ish I think. Use a Bob Ross episode to watch. Plenty on YouTube for free. Not even necessarily the entire episode. But for instance only the part where he makes a mountain.
Then have the kids do it. It does require a pallet knife but they're not that expensive and could be used again and again, every year. And you would need a PC and screen/projector.

Oh, the ideas I'm getting here, lol.

You can also do similar landscape but during sunset, rain, daylight etc. Make them choose, or have them do it all. All would require different colours. When it comes to painting, insight and a keen eye for colours is important. So helping them develop that a bit...
But up to the teach to make it interesting and fun so the kids get enthused and inspired.


jaish's photo
Sat 08/28/21 08:53 PM

Those Bob Ross' episodes, whew; for serious painters I think. For kids on color pencils / water colors; was thinking of stealing pictures from River's Travel Journal - the waterfall-creek view, and not being an artist, challenge them to draw the falls part, more for fun - or 'getting to explore painting'.

jaish's photo
Sat 08/28/21 11:03 PM
All in all this has been quite educational!

- a short BA in Teaching Arts; ha, ha

Tom4Uhere's photo
Mon 08/30/21 12:29 PM


Thanks Tom. That's a lot of info - fills gaps.

My question was more on how to incentivize older children (10 to 15) to sketch landscapes / ideas; apart from drawing contests and visiting art galleries --> welcoming artists here to share their story. (Personally, my interest in Art is regrettably a little late.)

When I was 15 I drew landscapes with black cracks in the sky, sometimes I drew eyes looking thru. I drew how I felt and at that time with hormones in overdrive and 'the man' dictating life I was feeling rebellious.

Landscapes are pretty easy for me to draw/paint. Perhaps you could suggest adding an 'unlandscapey' element to their drawings? I chose a crack in the sky, perhaps a fireball or a torus er something?
Teens want to stand out from the crowd. They want to awe and bedazzel others with their art. They want to express what they feel inside.

You could challenge them to create a landscape of an alien world or a future world? Perhaps a seascape of the ocean without the water? Great canyons and valleys or long mountain ranges with deep gorges.

For electronic inspiration have them play with Terragen, its a free landscaping program. http://planetside.co.uk/
Here's an image gallery of stuff you can make with terragen
http://planetside.co.uk/terragen-image-gallery/
I did some terragen (v1.0) alien landscapes years ago.

I also do watercolor/rubber cement landscapes.
You lay rubber cement items (trees rocks, clouds, sun) on a paper and allow it to dry.
You paint the watercolor and rub off the rubber cement and it leaves white areas then you color in the white with markers or colored pencils.

jaish's photo
Tue 08/31/21 02:53 PM


When I was 15 I drew landscapes with black cracks in the sky, sometimes I drew eyes looking thru. I drew how I felt and at that time with hormones in overdrive and 'the man' dictating life I was feeling rebellious.


A good story in a long time.
I think teens could learn from this and spring their own 'suggestions'


Thanks for the link to Terragen.
A bit unbelievable, like those days when I first worked AutoCad’s 3D.
{Mon is so out of touch now.}