Drawing With Children: Lesson 3

Lesson 3, pages 116-140 "Drawing from a Still Life"

Lesson 3 is really great for applying to your nature journal. I suggest working through the lesson as outlined to learn the concepts of drawing a still life. There are so many good points in this lesson that I want to emphasize the ideas that I really appreciated and hope that you can apply with your children.

• “Remember, as an artist you might not like many of the finished products, but they all serve as growing experiences toward the ones that give you a rush of satisfaction and appreciation.” Page 139
• “Now you have a formula for choosing projects from graphics and inanimate objects and rendering them into realistic drawings. You have learned how to use a drawing process that involves training your eyes to see the edges of everything and to duplicate their shape on paper. You are now well on your way to handling any subject that you wish.” Page 139

How to adapt this lesson to your nature journal
1. After working through the lesson, use the “Building Still Life Arrangements” section on pages 135-140 to arrange objects from your nature study for sketching into your nature journal.

Pay particular attention to page 137 where there is a list of possible items to include in your own custom still life. Many of these items are things that you could look for on your nature walks. Keep your eyes open to interesting textures and shapes and bring them home to arrange for your own drawing.

One additional suggestion I have is to place the still life in a spot where you can keep it up for a period of time. We sometimes work several different days on a single still life. Another idea is to have the still life in the middle of the table and then to draw it from different angles or sides of the table.

I would love to see any work you complete using these lessons. Please email them to me at harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com

Barb-Harmony Art Mom