A Hands-On Art Exploration for Homeschoolers (Ages 7-12)
This engaging six-week art course introduces young artists to the seven elements of art—Lines, Textures, Colors, Values, Space, Shapes, and Forms—through the works of legendary artists. Each class blends art history with hands-on projects, encouraging students to explore different artistic styles while developing their creativity and technique.
Ages: 7-12
Instructor: Ela Merrick
Day and Time: Tuesdays, 1-2:30 PM
Duration: 6 weeks of 90 minute classes
Dates: April 29 - May 6, 13, 20, 27, June 3; drop off experience
Tuition and Materials: $120, includes all materials
Week 1: Colors & The Art of Alma Thomas
🌈 Focus: The Color Wheel
🎨 Artist: Alma Thomas
🖌 Project: Mosaic Painting with Dashes of Color
Students will use a flat-ended brush to create colorful dashes in swirling, circular, or geometric patterns, mimicking Alma Thomas’ vibrant mosaics.
Week 2: Colors & Space with Keith Haring
🤸 Focus: Complementary Colors & Positive/Negative Space
🎨 Artist: Keith Haring
🎲 Project: Haring-Style People Figures
Students will transform stick figures into energetic Haring-style characters, using complementary colors to create striking designs. A fun dice-rolling activity may help inspire their unique poses!
Week 3: Shapes & Henri Matisse's Cut-Outs
✂️ Focus: Organic & Geometric Shapes
🎨 Artist: Henri Matisse
🖼 Project: Bold & Colorful Collage
Inspired by Matisse’s cut-out technique, students will cut organic and geometric shapes from colorful paper and assemble a vibrant collage. They can also personalize their work by cutting out letters of their name in artistic ways!
Week 4: Textures, Lines, & Patterns with Van Gogh
🌻 Focus: Texture & Line Work
🎨 Artist: Vincent Van Gogh
🖌 Project: Sunflowers in a Vase Mixed Media
Students will paint a monotone patterned wallpaper background before adding a table and vase using textured line work. They will then create sunflowers with crumpled magazine pages, tissue paper, or painted paper for a 3D effect.
Week 5: Space & Value Through Seurat’s Pointillism
🔵 Focus: Perspective, Tone, & Value
🎨 Artist: Georges Seurat
🖌 Project: Pointillist Landscape
Students will explore foreground, middle ground, and background while creating a pointillist landscape using Q-tips or dowels to apply tiny dots of paint. They will learn how shading and tone/value create depth in their artwork.
Week 6: Form & Andy Warhol’s Pop Art
🍲 Focus: 3D Forms & Pop Art Aesthetics
🎨 Artist: Andy Warhol
🖌 Project: Campbell’s Soup Can Redesign
Students will design their own Campbell’s Soup Can labels—either classic or wildly imaginative! To make their pop art creations three-dimensional, they may attach their designs to actual cans and even turn them into mini planters!