Drawing with Block Crayons & A Donsy of Gnomes Giveaway Coming Soon!

Recently I ordered Sieglinde de Francesca's Coloring with Block Crayons DVD set.  I really had no idea how to work with our block crayons. We were basically using them like ordinary crayons, which of course felt awkward as they are rectangular. I knew we could block in large areas of color with them and that they smell divine but that was the extent of my understanding. 

As an artist I know how to draw and paint, but teaching drawing and painting to an almost seven year old is a very different matter.  Also the way I learned is not the same as how drawing is taught in Waldorf.  I love how this method teaches the child to draw and think dimensionally. 

 

Sieglinde De Francesca covers drawing technique, how to draw plants, animals and people in a simplified & subtle way. The dvd is excellent for those who are complete beginners and experienced artists alike.  I also love how she teaches to draw with only the primary colors. 

So in our home school, we've been experimenting with block crayon drawing.  Michael used to avoid using the block crayons but now he's starting to really enjoy them.  The above H is my own, and the bottom H is Michael's. We read/told The Hut in the Forest by the Brothers Grimm and practiced drawing H's. We've only had two weeks of drawing in this manner. He enjoys the magic of seeing the colors change with every application.

I'm still working with him on slowing down, taking his time and also filling the entire page.  He has no problem drawing for hours on his own imaginative creations but when doing school work he tends to rush.

This is my drawing for the story, The Hut in the Forest.  On drawing day we work on a drawing together.  I create a drawing before hand, usually the weekend before.  Then I make a second drawing with him showing him how as we go. Michael enjoys the process. The first time we drew together he exclaimed "Mom, I can draw like you!" The above drawing was not illustrated for drawing day.  I think it's a bit too complex for him at this point.  It's not perfect, I tend to try to apply the color too dark but I'm learning and having fun with it.

I have our drawing pinned to the book shelf in our school/ dining area.  Michael likes to look at the drawing as I tell the story.  It also helps the next day in triggering his memory to retell the story to me.  Michael enjoys the retelling, usually creating a little puppet show with our wooden animals, houses and peg gnomes.

And here's the big news! Recently I contacted Sieglinde De Francesca to tell her how much I love her book, A Donsy of Gnomes and her Coloring with Block Crayons, dvd set, I also asked if she might like to have a giveaway here on Chocolate Eyes.  She said yes!  So please check back with me soon for my interview with Sieglinde De Francesca and to have your chance to win two awesome prizes!

Until next time...