DRAWING WITH CHILDREN WITH MONA BROOKES: AME 100
I wondered how to make this milestone episode special. When I thought back to all the episodes, there is one thread that runs through them. And that is that no matter where you teach art, how you teach art, or what stage you are at in your teaching journey…you are not alone.
We’re here for you.
When I began teaching art in 2004, and had no idea how to teach kids, there was someone there for me, too. An hour after I was offered the job, I went to borders and bought Drawing with Children by Mona Brookes. I knew I struck gold. I flipped through the pages and chapter headings caught my eye…
Giving the artist the permission to unfold
Creating a Supportive Climate
Talk like an adult, with non judgment
How we see…
The book didn’t focus on standards or academic tie-ins, it shared a strong philosophy on how to teach children to draw. It was about what was possible.
I read the book in a few nights and felt so confident about teaching that I literally didn’t plan any lessons other than drawing with the kids for the first few weeks. That was then, and I still refer to Mona’s instructions every now and again.
When we finally secured an interview time, I was giddy with excitement. I wasn’t sure how the interview would go. We talked about the evolution of the book, Drawing with Children, and how it was created…the publicity, the backlash, and how it ended up a franchise. It’s a fascinating story of how one idea channels into so many directions until in the end, it circles back to the origins.
I hope it inspires you to push, dream and circle back.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
– How Mona Brookes began her journey teaching, and why she says her first attempt as a teacher was a “failure”
– Mona’s philosophy for teaching young children to draw and how the ability to draw can be learned
– How Mona went from teaching art to branding her own methodology and selling franchises
– How technology has changed everything for Mona and her business
– Where the battle between art philosophies stems from
– How Mona is still impacting the world at the age of 80
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
My best advice for teaching art to kids.
DRAWING WITH CHILDREN WITH MONA BROOKES: AME 100
I wondered how to make this milestone episode special. When I thought back to all the episodes, there is one thread that runs through them. And that is that no matter where you teach art, how you teach art, or what stage you are at in your teaching journey…you are not alone.
We’re here for you.
When I began teaching art in 2004, and had no idea how to teach kids, there was someone there for me, too. An hour after I was offered the job, I went to borders and bought Drawing with Children by Mona Brookes. I knew I struck gold. I flipped through the pages and chapter headings caught my eye…
Giving the artist the permission to unfold
Creating a Supportive Climate
Talk like an adult, with non judgment
How we see…
The book didn’t focus on standards or academic tie-ins, it shared a strong philosophy on how to teach children to draw. It was about what was possible.
I read the book in a few nights and felt so confident about teaching that I literally didn’t plan any lessons other than drawing with the kids for the first few weeks. That was then, and I still refer to Mona’s instructions every now and again.
When we finally secured an interview time, I was giddy with excitement. I wasn’t sure how the interview would go. We talked about the evolution of the book, Drawing with Children, and how it was created…the publicity, the backlash, and how it ended up a franchise. It’s a fascinating story of how one idea channels into so many directions until in the end, it circles back to the origins.
I hope it inspires you to push, dream and circle back.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
– How Mona Brookes began her journey teaching, and why she says her first attempt as a teacher was a “failure”
– Mona’s philosophy for teaching young children to draw and how the ability to draw can be learned
– How Mona went from teaching art to branding her own methodology and selling franchises
– How technology has changed everything for Mona and her business
– Where the battle between art philosophies stems from
– How Mona is still impacting the world at the age of 80
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
LINKS & RESOURCES:
The Sparkler’s Club Waitlist
Monart Website
Monart Books
Monart Training
Pre-Order Patty’s new book Draw, Paint, Sparkle
You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram
support@deepspacesparkle.com
LINKS & RESOURCES:
Pre-Order Patty’s new book Draw, Paint, Sparkle
You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram
support@deepspacesparkle.com
My best advice for teaching art to kids.
Yes, the day has come!
After a long time deciding if, I finally said when.
Thank you SO much for your encouragement, show suggestions and help getting Art Made Easy off the ground.
Many of you were so pumped about this show but confessed that you had no idea what a podcast was. I love you guys for your unbridled enthusiasm.
Here’s a quick definition of a podcast & what to expect from Art Made Easy:
A podcast is a free radio show. The host (me!) interviews guests or talks about a favorite subject. You get to listen through your computer, laptop or smart phone. I like to listen to my favorite podcasts in my car during long travel days or on my walks via set of ear buds and my iPhone.
You can subscribe to the show via iTunes and Stitcher radio. The benefit is that your free podcast ap on your iPhone will automatically be updated with all the podcast episodes from any show you subscribe to.
Go ahead and give it a try!
To listen on your laptop or computer, just click the play button in the colored box below.
To listen via iTunes, click on the “play in iTunes” banner and click subscribe.
And now onto the show…
For my first show, I wanted to tell you my story of how I became an art teacher. We all have different paths and this one is mine. I’ll share advice to those who are just starting out as an art teacher and some of my best tips for teaching art to kids.
This episode is for anyone who thinks they may not have the qualifications to be an art teacher. Teaching art to kids doesn’t have to happen inside a classroom. You can teach art at home, at a summer camp and even as a volunteer (like I did).
If you are an art teacher just beginning your journey, I’m sharing my best advice to get you through that tough first year. Download my free handout and keep it in your teacher planner and refer to it when you have a tough day.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
SHOW NOTES:
Drawing With Children: A Creative Method for Adult Beginners, Too
Art Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Adventures in Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Paper, and Mixed Media-For Budding Artists of All Ages (Lab Series)
National Art Convention
CreativeLive- free online classes
Art Teachers Facebook Group
Website: Painted Paper in the Art Room (Laura Lohmann)
Website: Art of Education
Book: Classroom Management for Art, Music, and PE Teachers
PS – Please leave a review on iTunes!
Art Made Easy is now live on iTunes! Subscribing to the show and leaving an honest review really helps the show gain visibility and allows me to tailor the show to your needs.
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I was so excited to see/hear with Mona Brookes! Oh, may this book was my anchor as a first year art teacher. I was nodding my hearing the part about things did not like in art schools.
Very thankful and grateful, I have any go art education so I didn’t know anything. This book really helped. Students would drawing skills grow from leaps and bounds.
Thank you so much for listening!
Thank you for this fascinating and inspiring conversation which has got me determined to try again and to revise drawing lessons, which haven’t always worked out so well in my art room. This is. Y all time favorite podcast, and I have listened to most all for over a year. Congratulations Patty!
I was absolutely riveted listening to this episode with Mona Brooks. What a story she has to share! Listening to Mona describe in her own words her philosophy and method for teaching drawing skills to children gave me a kind of clarity I thought I already had. I will most definitely be hopping over to her website…and going back to re read chapters of my own very worn copy of her book. I’m feeling that I often get so busy just keeping up with the daily expectations that come with teaching art to children, and this episode has made me want to slow down a bit, go back and really set my intentions more clearly. Thank you again Patty, for sharing these amazing podcasts! Mona Brooks’ story and how her teaching life evolved is truly fascinating!
I found Classical Conversations, Inc. 9 years ago and while researching the art book that the tutors use in community, I decided to call Monart. I was prepared to leave a message for someone in an office to call me back. To my surprise, Mona answered the phone! She spoke with me for about an hour. (Me, a new homeschool mom of 3 boys from Alabama) Her whole approach applies to classical education in so many ways. This is the way we naturally learn any new skill!
Hi Patty and Mona – you are both my inspiration and mentors and it was lovely to listen to you both in the podcast. I am 50 years old and have been teaching art to children for the past five years (artKids Canberra) in Australia – having a similar life change to both of you around 45 years old – running it as a business, bit by bit, as word spread and my art classes have grown. It was so reassuring to hear Mona discuss her franchise dilemma as I am right in the middle of that now. My small business is growing and I’m now obliged to register for certain taxes, etc, which of course cuts into the small profit I was making. I’m now looking at licensing my way of teaching – combination of DSS, Monart, Marvegoes Way and my own discoveries – but not going the franchise route. It’s so soul destroying to want to share the joy of drawing and creating and to be curtailed by red tape! My dream is to make my own art in the morning and teach art to children (and adults!) in the afternoons. I can see how expanding will allow more kids to experience art and drawing but I’m constrained by how much time it cuts into my own art-making and family time, and quite frankly, whether it is financially viable. I guess we all have to navigate what is the best way for our own lives. The most important thing for me is the idea that there is no right way to draw, that copying and tracing is more than OK, and that there is no such thing as a mistake or flop – only ‘flopportunities’! I was reassured I was on the right track recently when a Senior Lecturer from the NSW College of Fine Arts (COFA) when discussing artKids with him. He took me aside and said “please, please keep teaching kids how to draw because the kids coming through University don’t know how to.” We’re all on the right track 🙂
Thanks for your continued inspiration, lesson plans and insights.
Thank you so much. I have used the Monart drawing for 12 years. I was caught in her Franchise dilemma! She had one of her art schools her in Seattle and I wanted to be trained because I do believe in her techniques. But the costs were so unaffordable for a teacher. It was a secret I couldn’t even attend with one of my classroom students. It turned me off but her book, which was my bible I still used I was a strong believer. The book took me through a school year but I wanted more for the older children as the continued the process. That is where Deep Space Sparkle was born st our school. I am so happy , I heard her personal story. I loved it. I am so happy that it wasn’t about her, but the system, lawyers and law that made it go in this direction. I am so happy she took her love back! Thank you Patty, and Mona for being such dynamic entrepreneurs in presenting us with these methods of teaching the skill of drawing. May both of you be blessed.
I was so excited to see this interview on your site.
I was a fan of Mona Brooks for many years, she is the one who inspired me to open my own private art classes that I started at my home, then continued at church for the last 8 years. Now I am in my first year of teaching art in elementary public school. So I am starting a new chapter in my 40th!!! It was very interesting to hear her story and listen to her advises. Thank you again for sharing it!!! I just signed up for waiting list for lesson plans from your site! I can not wait to start getting it and using it, because I think it will make my life so much easier! And I also love the way you do your videos and tutorial and everything!! Thank You Patty!!! You are amazing!!
Nadia
Thank you so much Nadia…for listening to the show and for being such a positive lovely person!
I have to say that copying, tracing, and/or guided drawings are an absolutely wonderful way to teach. As a matter of fact, I would say that those are THE WAY to teach.
How did Beatrix Potter learn to draw? By copying Randolph Caldecott.
How did Benjamin Franklin learn to write? By copying.
This is the time-tested method of learning. It is classical and has been around forever. You have to teach the basic techniques of any subject in order to learn.
There is nothing wrong with templates, tracing, and copying. This fallacious argument is just the constant swing of the pendulum of education. This will come up again and again until the end of the world.
Mona and Patty, don’t worry. You are absolutely correct in your methods and I am a firm supporter of both of you.