As a Charlotte Mason homeschooler, artist study has been a constant over the years. While I haven’t documented all our studies, I have pulled together several of them here for you.
Briefly: How We Do Artist Study
Most of the time, we focus on one artist per month in our home. One day each week consists of a different picture study using one piece of art from the artist. On that same day (art day), we will spend time reading about the artist using living literature and/or trying our hands at a “copycat” art or art using the same styles or media as the artist.
I keep a stocked stash of art supplies at the ready and that’s it. Art and artist study once a week!
Our Artist Studies
Below you will find links to our picture study choices, information resources we used during each month, and one or more of the projects we completed. When possible, I have linked directions for the projects. Otherwise, the art creations were usually just my children’s renditions of a particular artist’s work.
Mary Cassatt
Our online resources:
Books we read:
Suzette and the Puppy: A Story About Mary Cassatt (Young Readers)Mary Cassatt (Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists)Mary Cassatt: Family Pictures (Smart About Art)
Paul Cezanne
Online resources:
Math Lesson for Older Students
Books we read:
Cezanne and the Apple Boy (Anholt’s Artists)Paul Cezanne (Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists)
Edgar Degas
Online resources:
Books we read:
Edgar Degas: Paintings That Dance (Smart About Art)Degas and the Little Dancer (Anholt’s Artists Books For Children)
Albrecht Durer
Our Durer study was less conventional and very simple. Take a peek!
Paul Gauguin
Online resources:
Book we read:
Paul Gauguin (Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists (Paperback))
Grandma Moses
I’ve written an entire blog post about our Grandma Moses study and projects!
Henri Matisse
Online resources:
Olga’s Gallery – Warning: There are many nudes!
Books we read:
Henri Matisse: Drawing with Scissors (Smart About Art)Matisse the King of Color (Anholt’s Artists Books for Children)Henri Matisse (Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists)
Michelangelo
I’ve written an entire post about our month spent with Michelangelo!
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Online resources:
Renoir Gallery – Warning: There Are Many Nudes!
Books we read:
Pierre Auguste Renoir (Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists)Renoir and the Boy with the Long HairSmart About Art: Pierre-Auguste Renoir: Paintings That Smile
Auguste Rodin
Online resources:
Many Ideas for Drawing and Sculpting Hands
Henri Rousseau
Online resources:
Lesson Plan Page – Stained Glass
Books we read:
Henri Rousseau (Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists)The Fantastic Jungles of Henri RousseauRussell
Charles Russell
Online resources:
Book we used:
How to Draw 101 Horses & Ponies
Georges Seurat
Online resources:
Books we read:
Georges Seurat (Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists)Sunday with Seurat (Mini Masters)Seurat and La Grande Jatte: Connecting the Dots
Vincent Van Gogh
Online resources:
Books we read:
Camille and the SunflowersKatie and the Starry Night by James Mayhew (2015-06-04)Vincent Van Gogh: Sunflowers and Swirly Stars (Smart About Art)
A Unique Way To Add Artist Study
On occasion, I’ve been a tad overwhelmed with “fitting it all in”. During those times, I’ve enjoyed putting together simple art centers that my children were expected to visit independently.
Enjoy artist study at your house!
We’ve done a few artists studies; we always have fun reading about their lives and trying to copy their style of art.
Have you ever done another artist study post? Surely you’ve created more projects over the years. I’d love to see them!
Jessica, we have completed other artist studies over the years, but these are the only ones I have documented for the blog thus far. As we do more, I plan to add them to this page. 🙂