Young Watercolor Artists is a new series geared towards Pre-k through third-grade homeschool families. In this series, we will create lesson plans to introduce and implement watercolor into their art lessons on a grade level that will educate and inspire.
Let’s talk about it!
Why Watercolors?
Watercolor painting is more than just an art form; it’s a means of expression, a tool for exploration, and a way to enhance creativity in young minds. Its forgiving nature and the beauty of its unpredictability make watercolors the perfect medium for children to explore their artistic capabilities without the fear of making mistakes.
Here is why I feel watercolors are perfect for your young watercolor artists:
- Accessibility: Watercolors are widely available and affordable, making them an excellent starting point for introducing art at home. No need to purchase expensive watercolors, you may already have the Crayola brand in your home.
- Experimentation: Your kiddos can see the colors blend, mix, and create new shades right before their eyes, teaching them about color theory and composition in a playful manner.
- Emotional Expression: Watercolors, with their soft textures and gentle flow, enable your children to express emotions and stories through their artwork, aiding in their emotional development.
- Sensory Development: Painting gives fine motor skills as well as cognitive development. The act of holding a brush, mixing colors, and applying strokes to paper refines physical coordination and visual discernment.
- Educational Value: Each lesson plan in this series is created not only to introduce artistic techniques but also to integrate educational concepts, from science (exploring water and color mixing) to history (learning about famous watercolor artists).
I like to think that even for myself, painting with watercolors allows me to express myself in a way that sometimes tells a story of where I dream of being or where I have already been. I also love the way the colors can dance on the paper when I mix and match colors in such a fluid way that makes my heart sing.
Don’t worry if you are not an expert watercolorist, as there is no need to be! Anyone can watercolor, you just need to know the basics and a bit about color. No problem, because your lesson plans will help with that.
What to Expect From the Young Watercolor Artists Series
Each post in our series is tailored to a specific grade level—Pre-K through 3rd grade—ensuring that the lesson plans are age-appropriate, engaging, and educational. Your journey will begin with the simplest concepts suitable for our littlest artists and gradually introduce more complex techniques and ideas as we move up the grade levels. Here’s a peek at what each lesson will offer:
- Pre-K: Introduction to color mixing and sensory exploration.
- Kindergarten: Basic shapes, patterns, and introduction to nature themes.
- 1st Grade: Emphasis on emotions and expressions through colors.
- 2nd Grade: Exploration of landscapes and storytelling through art.
- 3rd Grade: Advanced techniques and the incorporation of watercolor with other media.
These lesson plans will be available with a link to download and print.
Why This Young Watercolor Artists Series?
Designed with homeschool parents in mind, this series aims to:
- Foster Creativity: Encourage your children to express themselves freely, nurturing their inner creativity.
- Educational Value: Integrate art with learning, enhancing cognitive skills, and understanding of the world.
- Quality Time: Offer a wonderful opportunity for you and your children to bond over the creative process.
- Accessibility: Provide you as a parent with easy-to-follow guides to teaching art at home, regardless of your artistic abilities.
A few years ago, I did a Zoom call with my then, 5-year-old niece and we created a watercolor bumble bee together. I also, years back, was a preschool teacher and always loved the arts when it came to creating.
Now as the grandmother of a very creative 12-year-old granddaughter, as well as a 2-year-old and 4-year-old granddaughter, I love doing projects with them. I am currently working with my 4-year-old granddaughter with watercolors which gave me the idea to start this series.
Stay tuned for your first lesson, tailored for your Pre-K artists, where we’ll explore the wonder of colors and the joy of painting. Grab your brushes, fill your jars with water, and prepare your workspace for a journey of creativity and learning.
For more resources, you can check out the following articles I wrote for beginner watercolor artists and to gather your supplies and what you need to set up your workspace.
- Watercolor For Beginners: Your Guide To Getting Started
- 5 Must Have Watercolor Supplies For New Artists
- 7 Steps To Setting Up Your Watercolor Workspace
Together, we will paint the world full of masterpieces with our young watercolor artists!
Can’t wait to paint with you!
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Stay Colorful, Stay Creative, and HAVE FUN!
~Laurie