Monday, February 9, 2015

A Difficult Drawing Assignment

My kids have all enjoyed drawing at one time or another... and they have done some drawing here and there... but I found that they tended to gravitate toward drawing the same or similar things each time... and none of them wanted to draw animals or people... they said it is too hard. So.... as a good homeschooling mom, I gave them an assignment .... to draw something they have never drawn before.  :)





They did not enjoy the assignment... but they did a good job. One child tends to mimic what others do, so I am trying to help her express her own abilities and talents and thoughts ... and she did so well...  This is a picture of her harp.  I was extremely pleased with it ... and especially that it was totally her own idea.  

One son does wonderful houses... and this is still a house, but it IS different from what he normally does. :)

There are so many ways to help our children grow and mature... and using art can help that. 

I love the details he thinks of and adds.... he started adding curtains to his windows quite a long time ago... for me. :)  He figured I would like them, and I do!

This son was unhappy with this picture... although I am pleased with it. I love the shading, the textured look... and more.  He doesn't like it because he used a photograph of his brother's dog and wanted it to look just like the dog. Well, it is a dog, but it doesn't look like the dog we know. I have explained that getting a picture of an animal or person to look LIKE that person or animal is very hard...  and for now, I am so glad to have pushed him out of his comfort zone. By the way, this son draws many amazing pictures... of barns, houses, planes and more... but NOT animals or people.  :)  I think this is wonderful for the first attempt. 


This is the same son's work..... assignment #2 was that they all had to do an animal and I left it open to them how they wanted to do it.

I was pleased with the results.




The styles vary... it is obvious that this assignment isn't easy for them, but my biggest goal here was to push them out of their comfort zone and get them to stop saying, "I can't draw animals."

What is it about us homeschooling moms, that we pick out the weak areas and push on those instead of just allowing the strong areas to be the focus?

 Hmmm..... it reminds me of what God does in my life... and it sure isn't always fun, as He lovingly focuses on those weak areas and gives me "assignments" to strengthen those areas.... and He keeps pushing me to do what I need to do, even when I say, "I can't."
I need to remember this when those next difficult assignments come my way... it seems there are so many of them... and I do not like them at all.... but I do know that He loves me... and He has a wonderful plan... and I need to trust Him.

"My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise." Psalms 57:7

This is from the same child who did the harp above... and I feel tearful to look at this... I did help her with it, but she did most of this on her own... and I am so pleased. I love seeing her personality shine through... her tender heart. I want her to gain confidence and she will...  we will keep working on it. :) 

Thank you for visiting my blog
 today.... it was nice to see you. :)




Shared on:
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25 comments:

  1. I love seeing what God is doing in their lives... and how they are growing in so many ways.... and I love that He gives ideas of how to help them grow even more though simple assignments. :) Thank you for visiting.

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  2. You are a very gifted mother, raising very gifted children! I love their artwork! And they are your artworks! BTW: there are tricks that can be very handy in doing portraits. If any of them want to give a try, look up using a grid; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNFIuVws5EA

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    1. Thank you so much.... what a sweet comment! They have worked with grids a bit.... especially the one son, but we haven't tried them with animal drawings. Thank you for being so encouraging... what a joy to have you visit. :)

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  3. You have some wonderful artists. I remember when our daughter first started drawing and how it's evolved into her art work today. Not only in drawing however in many areas of creativity, even to her current position as a Christian TV station.

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    1. That is wonderful.... I am convinced that God allows us to learn things and use them... even if they won't be a chosen career field... and that is such a blessing. :)

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  4. your kids all do wonderful drawings! great way to encourage them

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    1. Thank you... I need to be more deliberate about working on this more. :) Thank you for visiting.

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  5. Wow, I would frame some of those and put them up in their room. Or begin a gallery of their pictures that you can change out now and then. Such works needs to be shown
    Janice

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    1. I agree... right now, I have some of them taped up on the pantry door (sort of our command central info center! :) I have thought of the same thing... matting them... or setting up portfolios.... much to think about and do. :) Thank you for visiting.

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  6. What beautiful pictures, and thank you for the reminder to push our children out of our comfort zones. I know when I do this with myself, I am almost always happy with the results.

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    1. That's true... but the temptation is to just do what we are best at and protect those weak spots.... good to stretch our kids... and our own lives. :)

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  7. Oh what beautiful drawings! My two grandpa's and sister are very gifted when it comes to drawing. Me on the other hand struggles....a lot :) I truly admire those that can draw and I admire you for giving your kids a little nudge to {like Jennifer said} push them our of their comfort zones. Thanks for sharing at Roses of Inspiration. Hugs!

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    1. Thank you... we all have gifts in different areas and I love to have us develop the gifts God has given. Thank you for visiting. :)

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  8. wonderful. So glad to hear you're cultivating creativity. I can barely draw a stick figure.

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    1. Thank you.... stick figures have their place too! :) Thank you for visiting.

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  9. Wow - I am impressed! Your children are very talented! I am glad that you are encouraging them to thing outside their comfort zone because you never know what you can do until you try!

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    1. Thank you.... you're right... you don't know what you can do until you try... and being pushed is the only way we get to that point sometimes. I know I don't LIKE to be pushed, but it can be good for us. Thank you for visiting. :)

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  10. What great gifts God has given you and your children, the pictures are beautiful, I especially like the puppies but they are all wonderful. Thank you for sharing this gift with us at Good Morning Mondays. Blessings

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    1. Thank you.... I have been so glad to see what they can do... what a blessing.... and I want them to grow....especially spiritually. :) Thank you for visiting.

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  11. Goodness, your children have a natural talent! Perhaps that's why you felt led to "push" them a bit. Wonderful art, by all of them!

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    1. Thank you... I have seen them improve little by little over the years and I don't mean to sound like I am complaining about their work... no, more that I want to help them improve to their ability. :) Thank you for visiting.

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  12. It is so true how God "pushes" us to work on our weaknesses so we can grow in holiness. ..and closer to Him too. :) And great art work! Your kids are really good! Wow!

    Thanks for linking up with us for Tuesday Talk! - Jess

    Www.sweetlittleonesblog.com

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    1. Thank you... I'm so glad you visited... and thank you for the great link up. :)

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  13. Those are really great drawings, and a good stretching of their abilities to do something just a bit out of their comfort zone. Thanks for linking this at Middle School Monday!

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    1. Thank you.... I appreciate your input on this. :) It was my first visit to Middle School Monday... thank you for the party. :)

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