How to teach a child to draw.

You might call this the "Socratic method of teaching a child to draw"

You probably don't need artistic ability yourself. I have used this with my own children, with very good results.

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As the name suggests, this is about asking a lot of questions. In the example below, of the bridge, you start by having the child draw a light box of the same proportions as the picture. By light, I mean not dark, heavy pencil lines. In fact, The one thing I emphasize to the child is the need to start with light pencil lines. Exacting placement of the lines is not too crucial, as the goal is to make a drawing that fairly closely resembles the object in the picture. That accomplishment will be very rewarding for both of you. Using light lines will make it easy to erase extra unneeded lines. Then you can outline it with an inexpensive fine tip 'felt' marker (called ultra fine in most places). After that, fill in the drawing with colored pencils. Scan it, and use it for clipart, post it on a website, include it in your emails. This is one of the most rewarding, fulfiling things you can do with a child. Life is busy and demanding, and you don't want to go through it knowing you should be doing something with your child, more than watching movies together. This type of activity will quench that thought that keeps popping up about needing to do something together.

Back to the drawing: You find a line that needs to be drawn, then, pointing with your finger, or a pencil, ask the child, "does it start here? No? What about here? No? Then where?" the child will point to a place between the two exagerated points you mentioned. In the sample drawing below the photo of the bridge, See points A,B,C. The A isn't where the line starts, nor is the B. Let the child point out C. If they're obviously too far off, gently persuade them to move it. Something like:"That might be a tiny bit too low, what about moving it up a little?" But better to have the line off position a bit, than to bring stress into the situation. Next, go to where the other end of the line will be. In the example, that is D,E,F. When the child establishes where the beginning or ending point of a line is, have them lightly make a mark there. When both points are in place, draw the line across, use a ruler if need be. This isn't learn how to draw perfect straight lines time, it's make a neat-o drawing together time. To make a curved line, lightly draw the line with your finger tip, while saying "We're going to draw a curved line like this" Then, establish the beginning and ending points. Ask the child "Will the curve come up to here? No? Then will it come up to here? No? Then where will it go? See points G,H,I.

The drawing below the sample lines was made by one of my daughters. In it, we actually drew the road in front of the bridge first, then the bridge, then the water and shoreline last of all. This method isn't an exacting method to be followed rigorously, no, make up your own improvements as you go.

Teach a child to draw

Page 2

Fun and basic perspective drawing lesson