lines

The Monart Method is described in Drawing with Children. It's basic shtick is that around age 6, you can dramatically improve kids' ability to draw by teaching them "5 basic elements of shape." It's an elegant move and avoids the realistic/symbolic axis that Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain revolves around. The shapes can be used to draw abstractions, realistic scenes, or fantasies. I can see how it can dramatically improve drawing.

The method also impressed me with their approach to imagination. It suggests finding important images and keeping a clipping file. Then you take an image from the clipping file and imagine how you want to use it in a drawing, make a thumbnail and then start. Basically, a method I've developed on my own sorta kinda. But I like that it starts with the raw image as opposed to an idea, etc. When you get more comfortable with drawing, you can riff off of directly perceived stuff (like these sketches I'm doing).

Useful. By the way, you can find those 5 basic shapes on their lovely flash site if you choose on "monart method" and click through.

I'm proud to say the watercolors used above were a 5 color kid set. I ashamed to say I never knew that you can get a very good ultramarine blue (basic blue) by mixing purple and phthalo blue. There's one less color I need in the travel kit.