How To Teach Homeschool Art Like a Pro (When You’re Not)

I was given this product free from Atelier Homeschool Art and I was compensated for my time. However, paid for my time does not mean paid off.  ALL opinions are my own and for sure I will always tell you what is on my mind. When I do accept a product it’s because I’m giddy to tell you about it. Read my full disclosure here. Now on to the fun stuff!

Knowing that it requires both skill and creativity to be a successful artist, I’ve spent years looking for a homeschool art curriculum which teaches both concepts. There is a reason I’m using Atelier Homeschool Art again this year. It teaches both concepts easily to a novice student and teacher.

Atelier Homeschool Art is video-based teaching. So it not only frees up my time to teach, but it also gives me teaching tips in the parent/teacher’s manual.

I like to be selectively controlling when teaching art. What I mean is that at certain times, I want to learn alongside my son while teaching him. Other times, when I have minimal to no teacher prep time, I want art lessons laid out so that it’s pick up and go.

Before I go on I just have to let you know one important thing and that is you don’t want to miss the SWEET surprise at the end of this post!

Kids Art Lessons

Teaching homeschool art use to be a subject that intimidated me.

(Creative expression can be learned by following a model.)

When I first started homeschooling, I was lopsided in my teaching. I was overly focused on skill subjects or the three Rs. Little did I understand that art feeds a child’s mind and that a creative imagination is the beginning to a lifelong love of learning anything.

Let me back up though because I want you to understand how Atelier Homeschool Art is laid out.

Homeschool Art Lessons

Look at these quick facts about how Atelier Homeschool Art makes it easy for me to teach art.

• They offer 8 levels and because the levels overlap several ages it gives me more wiggle room when I had to choose a skill level.
• The subscription is a full year of visual art lessons which you get for 3 years. More on that in a minute. However, there is no need to plan when lessons are ready for the year.
• It is also a family subscription. I wouldn’t be wrong in saying you could use it for all of your kids but the subscription allows you to learn art too. It’s not just for multiple ages of children, but mom and dad can join in on the fun because the program is not baby-ish. The teaching and material are top-notch produced.
• Not only is the art program offered online, but the DVD program is the same content. Let’s face it. There are still some places that don’t have a fast internet connection and there is no need to have to settle for mediocre art curriculum. I do love that Tiny can use his iPad and then I can look at his lessons on my laptop.
• Another super help to me is that they offer art kits for just about 80% of the lessons. No need to guess which products you need. However, I also like the fact that prior to each lesson you are given a list for supplies. Why is this important to me? In teaching children to be independent, they need to receive proper instruction. If we don’t have art supplies in the house for the next lesson, Tiny needs to review ahead to let me know what supplies he needs. Yes, I love that Atelier Homeschool Art teaches independence even in art study. It’s Tiny job to gather his supplies and be ready for the next art lesson.
• I mentioned that art is about having skill and creativity. Some kids have natural talent in that area and some need a model to follow. Either way, those skills can be taught or reinforced which is why the scope and sequence is important to me. We are working on Level 8 this year and look at what we’re learning. Students will build and develop a foundation of skills by learning and working through the essential elements and principles of art including: line, color, space, shape, texture, pattern, and balance. Level 8 also includes art-history, media exploration, creative self-expression, cultural appreciation, and much more.
• It is a well-rounded art curriculum and allows plenty of time for free expression.

• Then something else that really helped me as a beginner when teaching art is learning insider’s tips and tricks of the trade. I left the penciled grid lines on the beautiful art above that Tiny did while learning about Michelangelo. I wanted you to see that trick. Not only did he learn art history but he learned pro tips like making a grid line on his page when doing really larger pieces of art. It may seem like a small thing if you’re experienced at art, but if you’re like me, you appreciate all the seemingly insignificant, but important pro tips. Too, it makes Tiny really proud of his work instead of ending up with a small scale picture that he worked so hard on, but that only takes up about 1/4 of the page.

• It helps us to look at art through the eyes of an artist. Tiny tends to be more like me in expecting perfection of himself. Sad, but true that the kid got that quality from me. This means we need more encouragement to let go of that expectation, but we still want to have guidance and drawing aids. That is another huge benefit of each lesson. Not only are teacher instructions included, but drawing aids are made available for download. We also appreciated the visuals used in each class as the art instructor explains what she sees in concrete objects. Again, helping us to see art through her eyes.
• Although I mentioned the teacher’s guide, it’s important for you to know that not all teacher’s guides are designed equally. I have a high standard for a teacher’s guide and especially for one about a subject that I’m not an expert at teaching. This teacher’s guides exceeds my expectations because of the content and helpful how-tos. The teacher’s guide is 184 pages. It includes background information on how to teach art and how to grade it. It has a scope and sequence along with a glossary of terms and objectives. It is truly comprehensive.

Teaching Art While at the Museum

However, there is one more benefit that really sets this curriculum apart and that is the digital art prints along with the Art Print Guide.

It is already comprehensive but this nifty feature just makes it overflowing with ideas on how to incorporate art into every day life.

Make visiting an art museum come alive when you discuss the series of 10 digital prints. We have started a notebook with these prints and are covering them slowly since the guide has questions (with answers) along with activities to extend learning.

Each print has artist background information along with information about the artwork.

This could easily count as a fine art credit for a middle or high school student or half-credit depending on how comprehensive you want it to be.

Having multiple options when buying is appealing to me.

Included with each family package for the online Great Art Appreciation Program are 10 Great Masters Art Images and the Discussion Guides.

But if you choose the enrichment option, you get at least 90 artworks.

The enriched family package option also includes the Great Masters Virtual Museum. This virtual museum contains at least 90 artworks displayed in 7 galleries, along with discussion guides for each artwork. It is designed for those families who wish to include an enriched art appreciation and art history component with their studio art lessons.

Hands-down this is by far the best homeschool art program I’ve used and I’m PROUD that Atelier Homeschool Art is part of our curriculum!

How to Purchase It.

►Product Name: Atelier Online – Level 8 (ages 12-16) Levels 1 through 8 are available, which can be used for ages 4 to 16.
►Website: Atelier Homeschool Art
►Try it for Free: Click here for free sample lessons.
►About the product: All Atelier art lessons are presented on video, and reinforced by lesson plans. Not only are the videos a rich source of creative ideas and inspiration, it also clarifies the objectives, materials, techniques and procedures of each lesson. Abundant instructional coverage, as well as that of students in a virtual art class performing the lesson and displaying their finished artwork, consistently produces exceptional student results and learning, regardless of the art background of the parent-teacher.
►Formats: This program is not only available online, but the same materials can be purchased in dvd format too.
►Type of product: Online video-based.
►Art Supply Kits: We had many of these art materials, but did have to purchase some of them. If you’re like me and want things easily laid out, then you may like the Atelier Art Supply Kit which includes approximately 80% of the supplies needed for a complete level.
►Price: 140.00 for each grade level BUT that is for 3 years. Did you think I would forget to tell you about this? Why is it for 3 years? Because Atelier Homeschool Art knows that to truly master skills it takes years.

So to find the true cost. Divide 140.00 by 36 months (3 years) and that equals $3.88 per month. What a value for beautiful art curriculum.

Like I mentioned before, each lesson has drawing aids. Last year, Tiny picked one drawing aid to work on one skill and this year Tiny chose a completely different drawing aid. However, he is still working on improving the same concept in align with his maturity level.

But if you have a stricter budget that you need to stay in, you’ll love their newest option to buy. You can buy just individual modules.

You’ll love these other tips!

• Homeschool Art (Why Video Based Teaching Rocks)
• Video Based Homeschool Art (No Teaching Involved)
• How to Expose Homeschooled Teens to a Variety of Fine Arts (and Get High School Credit).