We draw small children with a simple pencil step by step. Simple ways to teach children to draw

Today, with the help of a detailed step-by-step lesson, we will learn draw a child with a pencil. The article describes the stages of construction and the creation of a shadow. The portrait of a baby differs from an adult in its parameters. The eyes and cheeks will be more expressive, and the nose and lips less so. So, let's start drawing and find out how how to draw a child Right.

Tools and materials:

White sheet of paper;
Simple pencils (hard and soft);
Eraser.

Stages of work:

Photo 1. At the first stage, use a simple pencil to sketch a rectangle without using a ruler. Making a drawing by hand:

Photo 2. Let's calculate the dimensions of our form. The height of the rectangle should fit one and a half times the width, which means one and half the height. If everything agrees in size, you can move on to the next point. But you should take the sizes responsibly, because if they are not calculated correctly, then the drawing will not turn out correct and beautiful. So let's double check:

Photo 3. We will use our rectangle as the basis for the face. Let's draw a slightly rounded upward line at the top. The right side will be lower than the left:

Photo 4. Using an eraser, remove the top horizontal line of the rectangle. We round the bottom corners:

Photo 5. Let's draw a similar curved line on top. Let's make serifs for the cheeks:

Photo 6. Now let's create the eyes. We retreat half a centimeter from the edge on the left and right and divide the segment into equal three parts. From the middle segment we lower two lines down, which will diverge slightly towards the bottom. Below we will define the chin and make it rounded. The nose will be located in the middle of the face, and from the nose to the chin we will make a notch for the mouth:

Photo 7. Add large oval eyes. Toward the edge they will be more pointed. Let's add holes on the nose. We can make the cheeks more “loose” and round them:

Photo 8. Add a header image. It will have a drawing of a bear cub and his ear on the right. The cap will show curves and small folds. Let's check the vertical line on the left. We slightly detail the lines of the collar of the sweaters. There will be several of them. Don't spend too much attention on clothes. The main task for a portrait is the face:

Photo 9. We determine the darkest places and shade them. Take the eyes, the openings of the nose, the lines of the mouth and the left background. We slightly outline the outlines of the face. It is worth remembering that a baby’s face is distinguished by its smooth lines. Draw the eyelids above the eyes with a thin line:

Photo 10. Let's determine the main direction and location of the shadow. The light will fall from the top right, which means the shadow will be located on the left. Let's grab the forehead, neck, left side of the nose, cheeks and chin:

Photo 11. Now using the shadow we create the shape of the face. It is important to remember that the direction of the strokes helps create volume. Add shadows around the eyes, forehead and nose. But you shouldn’t put too much shadow on your cheeks, because they stick out a little and receive a lot of light:

Photo 12. Add touches to the hat and ear. At the same time, we work on the facial features and the shadow on it:

Photo 13. We continue to work on volume. At this stage, we can lightly describe the clothes, identifying folds on them:

To achieve good results in the upbringing and development of a child, you need to offer him activities to his liking. One of the activities that all children love to do is drawing. By inviting a child to draw, we stimulate his cognitive interest, mental development, fine motor skills, and creative thinking. From our article you will learn what simple ways there are for kids to learn drawing.

Types of drawing

Learning to draw is an educational activity through which a child can improve his innate drawing skills. And adults - parents or teachers - should help him master the necessary skills. Methods of teaching fine arts should pursue the goal of not only teaching how to properly hold a pencil or brush in your hand, but also, first of all, cultivating aesthetic feelings, namely the ability to see beauty and create it yourself, depict your thoughts, and bring your ideas to life.

When teaching drawing, take into account the age characteristics of the child

"Advice. When teaching children to draw, one should select methods that would arouse interest in drawing and evoke an emotional response in the child’s soul.”

When starting to draw with children, you need to take into account their age characteristics and select the appropriate types of drawing. Young children have not yet developed many skills. Younger preschoolers cannot yet correctly hold a pencil and brush in their hand, monitor the force of pressure they put on a sheet of paper, correctly position images on a sheet of paper, not go beyond the contours when painting what they have drawn, etc. Based on these reasons, it is best to start drawing classes for kids of the simplest types, skills and techniques.

What you need to teach your child to do first:

hold a pencil (brush, felt-tip pen) correctly in your hand
depict the simplest lines and shapes, “sticks” and “paths”
do not go beyond the contours of the drawing when coloring it

When the baby masters this initial arsenal of drawing skills, he will be able to put his ideas on paper, while feeling more confident.

It’s easy to implement ideas if you master the simplest types of drawing

Show your child the simplest types of drawing:

"Drawing in the air." One of the first drawing lessons can be a conventional drawing of lines and geometric shapes with a hand in the air. This can be done using your index finger or your entire palm. This type of initial drawing prepares the child to begin to depict something on paper. The same movements can be done on a straight, smooth surface, such as a table.
"Collaborative drawing." The next stage in teaching children to draw is when an adult guides the child’s hand with a pencil along the paper. The child sees how the image is created, and the adult comments on what happens. With the help of this type of drawing, the child learns to hold a pencil correctly, press it onto the paper and, ultimately, draw simple lines and shapes.
"Completing the details." This is drawing based on a workpiece, where part of the pattern is drawn (like a mirror image) or points for connection. The child must complete the details that are missing in the drawing by analogy with the image on the right or left, or connect the dots, thus obtaining a drawing. It’s better when the picture has a plot and the adult tells something exciting in accordance with the intended plot.
“I draw myself.” Having practiced all the basic types of drawing, the child will be ready to draw something himself. And an adult can help him by suggesting a plot for a drawing and giving him a task.

Image techniques

Introduce your child to those image techniques that are easy to master.

If you continue to show your child drawing techniques that are easy to master, this will significantly enrich his visual activity. This way the child will master what he could not do before. Make sure that your baby’s hand is strong enough that he can hold a pencil firmly enough and quite consciously repeat the strokes he sees. After that show him several image techniques:

drawing lines (straight, wavy)
shading with short straight strokes
shading with long vertical and horizontal strokes
shading with oblique tear-off and continuous strokes
shading using extending strokes
image of round and rectangular objects
dab (brush)
painting (pencil, brush).

It’s good when an adult doesn’t just show a child how to trace paper with a pencil or brush, but accompanies the creative process with stories that he understands. For example, when drawing different lines, an adult suggests depicting a path, a stick, etc. And a wavy line is already a river or sea, smoke from a house chimney, a forest path. It is important that the images are familiar to the child.

Watch the video in which an art teacher talks about where to start when teaching kids to draw.

How to teach a child to draw step by step

If you decide to teach your child to draw, be prepared for the fact that you will have to practice a lot and regularly. This is how skills are developed. Parents will have to draw pictures themselves, because the baby needs something to focus on. The child will look at the drawings you made and try to repeat them.

"Advice. There is no need to simplify the task too much by drawing objects for the child schematically. If you are drawing a house, then let it be surrounded by a dense forest, flowers, and funny animals. The drawing should be bright and attract the child.”

In step-by-step learning to draw, it is important to voice the plot of the image. In this case, not only fairy tales, but also poems are well suited. This way you will also contribute to the development of your baby’s speech skills.

Showing how the simplest lines and geometric shapes are drawn, gradually transform them before the child’s eyes. So from a circle you will get the sun, from a triangle - the roof of the house, and short vertical lines will become grass. This is the basic principle of step-by-step drawing.

See how you can easily show your child how to draw a chicken:

Know that children quickly get bored with simple drawing. Don’t be lazy to suggest and show your child new techniques, offer new images to reinforce the skill of step-by-step drawing. An interested child will be able to draw better and better.

Pick up a pencil

Teach your child how to use a pencil correctly

To properly organize your child’s learning to draw with a pencil, follow these recommendations:

Teach your child first to hold a pencil in his hand in the correct position, and then directly to learning to draw.
Help first: guide the baby's hand with your hand.
Start learning with straight and wavy lines, simple shapes, gradually “revitalizing” what you have drawn.
As soon as your child masters drawing simple large shapes, gradually complicate the tasks by inviting him to draw small details: a man near the house or fruits on a tree.

"Advice. While drawing, teach your child to recognize colors, select and combine them correctly.”

Remember that to consolidate the skill you need to regularly repeat exercises with a pencil.

Painting with paints

When starting to introduce your child to paints, choose watercolor and gouache.

Tips for parents on teaching their child to work with paints:

When starting to introduce your child to paints, choose watercolor and gouache. These paints are safe for children and are easy to wash.
Provide your baby with brushes of different sizes, which should be made of soft bristles. Brushes made from pony and squirrel hair are good - they are soft and inexpensive.
Stock up on thick drawing paper. The A-3 sheet format is ideal for the creativity of preschoolers.
Buy your baby a special sippy cup for washing brushes. Such a glass will not stain your beautiful carpet if your baby accidentally pushes it off the table.
It's good to have a palette for mixing colors. At first, a regular plastic plate will do.
Start the first lesson by talking about paints and brushes. It is better if it is a fairy tale or even a small theatrical performance.
Tell about flowers, supporting the story with visual materials (colorful pictures). Tell us clearly what color is used to paint.
Teach your child to hold a brush and use it: hold it in your hand, pick up paint, apply it to paper, rinse the brush, blot it. First, let the baby move a dry brush over the paper, practice the degree of pressure and the accuracy of the movements.
Start painting using one color at first. Let the child draw lines - straight and wavy, strokes, simple shapes with closed contours that can be colored. Show how to do dipping.
Learn in stages. When the baby masters drawing with one color, add another, then another.

Gradually, the child will learn to draw much more accurately.

When the child draws in two colors, you will see that the drawings are not clear and accurate. It’s okay, because the little artist has not yet fully consolidated the skill of depicting clear and neat lines. Multitasking is not yet possible for a child: he must learn to work with two colors, not to smear, not to go beyond the outline, to wash the brush on time, not to pour water. Gradually, the child will learn to do everything much more carefully.

“If an experienced teacher guides learning to draw, he will contribute to the child’s development of observation, creative imagination, and accuracy.”

The drawings of three-year-olds are chaotic, since they are not yet capable of drawing objects. Do not require careful drawing and maximum similarity to real objects: all this will be gradually formed if the baby exercises regularly. To maintain a child’s interest in drawing, you need to support him in every possible way and create positive situations related to drawing. Do not scold your child if he stains his clothes or carpet with paint. Clean up the clutter together.

It’s good when the baby attends a kindergarten or a child development center, where he will be taught to draw simple objects, closed lines, and color an outline.

“It is important that the child does not get upset if the intended drawing does not work out. Mark what turned out well in the drawing, praise the child, and comfort him if necessary. Offer to draw on this topic again.”

Now you know simple ways to teach children to draw. Get your child interested in drawing and create conditions for his creative development. This way you will reinforce your child’s interest in drawing with positive emotions, and soon he will delight you with his masterpieces.

A child develops every minute from birth. A mother’s natural desire is to help the baby in his endeavors. Drawing is a great way to prepare your little one for preschool education.

When to start?

You can instill a love of drawing in babies as early as 9 months, when they are already sitting well and confidently, giving them a brush in their hands or creating wonderful drawings simply with their hands. At this age, the baby is very curious and explores the world with the help of tactile and taste buds. Bright jars of paint will undoubtedly attract his attention. At this age, he will not create an ideal landscape, but the abstraction will certainly be bright and will delight the baby. In this case, it is not the result that is important, but the process of introducing the child to paints, their consistency and capabilities. This will teach your child to draw like real artists do. From the age of one year, or even earlier, you can give him a brush, colored pencils or markers so that he can see the difference between colors.

The child begins to create images with meaning, close to the general understanding of the drawing itself, after two years, closer to three. To develop artistic abilities even earlier, direct interaction between parents and children is important. Mom should set an example, draw an object and voice out loud what she is doing and how. This will be a great start to teaching your child how to draw simple drawings.

First steps

When you decide to introduce your baby to colors, you need to be patient. To begin with, you will need good quality finger pigments. In any case, the baby will want to taste the new substance. Special finger paints are given a characteristic bitter taste so that you will not want to eat them. You can draw in a regular album, but it is better to unfold a large Whatman paper or get a roll of old wallpaper. The more space available for play, the less likely it is that surrounding objects will get dirty. It is better to dress the child in household items that you don’t mind getting smeared with paint.

After 3 years, children become even more interested in drawings; they crave a variety of materials - paints, pencils, markers, pens, crayons. It is necessary to give the little person the opportunity to develop his imagination, using various techniques. By combining a few simple elements, it is easy to teach a child to draw a person. As soon as he is able to draw on his own, the tasks need to be gradually made more difficult. All classes should be conducted in a playful way, but in no case in the form of training sessions! If the baby is not in the mood, you should not force him - this will only make him alienated from creativity.

Simple techniques for kids

To fully express emotions on paper, there are many different drawing techniques, the choice of which depends on the quality of the canvas and the shape of the brushes. In addition, the choice of tools determines how smoothly the paint will lie on the paper.

In addition to creative talents, drawing develops fine motor skills, speeds up the process of learning colors, develops horizons, sensory and eye skills. Don't overload your baby. A couple of flowers on the palm is enough for the first acquaintance with drawing.

It’s time to introduce a growing child to various techniques. At about a year old, the baby is ready to pick up a brush and make a variety of strokes, strokes, and lines. It's better to draw while playing. To do this, use cotton swabs, lids, sponges and other improvised materials with which you can truly show your imagination. There are a lot of options: spraying with a toothbrush, “stamping” with a foam sponge or champagne cork, using applique elements and plasticine.

Painting with paints

It is better to start drawing lessons with paints. They are bright, have an interesting consistency, and you can draw with them without much effort. Children's fine motor skills are still poorly developed, so they may not hold a brush or pencil, but create their masterpieces directly with their fingers.

Initially, after applying paint to the child’s palm, it is important to monitor his reaction. The task of parents is to help the child in an unfamiliar matter. First, palms and fingers leave imprints on whatman paper. Ideally, mom does the same. At first, three colors are enough. The lesson should end before the child gets bored, otherwise he may refuse to draw next time.

To develop motor skills, you can give your baby a cotton swab or sponge. It should be interesting for a child to dip an object into paint and get different prints. In addition, the process itself develops not only fine motor skills, but also concentration.

After one and a half years, acquaintance with figures, objects, and animals begins. By combining elementary circles, squares and triangles, you can teach your child to draw simple drawings step by step, for example, a man or animal faces.

Children's creativity with pencils

It is necessary to use a pencil to get acquainted with new drawing techniques - shading and outlining figures. If the brush falls down with any pressure, then drawing with a pencil requires effort.

The main condition for the development of creativity of a novice artist is to create optimal conditions. You can’t interfere, you need to give the child freedom of action. Basically, the subject of creativity depends on his age. Younger children try to imitate the sun and flowers. Older children try to draw princesses or cars. From the age of 5, full-fledged children's pictures already appear, the child begins to pay attention to details. He draws not only the main characters, but also the background.

Fine art for kids

Getting a 2-year-old interested is quite simple, just like teaching a 3-year-old to draw. A personal example is needed. It is not enough to explain to a child how something is drawn, it is important to show it. The ideal time for classes is the first half of the day, when he does not want to sleep, eats and is still full of energy. The themes for the drawing are first determined by the mother. Most often these are ordinary lines and toys. The child will trace the figures with interest or connect them using shading. In this way, he gets acquainted with the figures and trains to control the pencil to the fullest, concentrating on his own actions.

As soon as the initial stage is completed, the simplest elements learned are used to create full-fledged simple drawings. Soft triangular pencils are suitable for learning. They contribute to the formation of the correct grip of an object in the hand. If you give your child bright markers at first, he may later refuse to draw with pencils.

Basic techniques for children

How to teach a child to draw simple drawings step by step? To begin with, it is important to know how they are created correctly.

For a child to enjoy drawing geometric shapes, he must be interested in the task itself. If you simply say “connect the dots,” there is a high probability of receiving a refusal. But “help the little dot catch up with the big one” or “connect the dot-mom, the dot-dad and the dot-baby” are much more interesting. The child will be more willing to take on this “mission.”

In addition to the correct drawing technique, you need to pay attention to painting. For the first tests, shading is suitable. It is imperative to remind the child not to go beyond the boundaries of the drawing. It is important that the mother herself shows how the color and appearance of the drawn object changes if the pencil is pressed harder or weaker. You can compare the drawings and ask your child to explain what the difference is to make sure that he understands the essence of the rules and the meaning of painting.

Drawing animals and humans

If parents expect to immediately see a full-fledged portrait, then they will be disappointed. Initially, these may be schematic images of lines and geometric shapes, perhaps not even connected to each other. The easiest way to teach a child to draw a person step by step is to use lines and a circle. When creating the desired image on paper, it is necessary to explain to the baby which part of the body is conveyed by one or another line. If an activity is difficult for a child, it is worth inviting him to cope with this task through joint efforts.

Creative activities with preschoolers

By the age of five, a child’s imagination is actively developing. This gives him the opportunity to express his fantasies. Parents need to know how to teach their child to draw at the age of 4 and convey their wishes on a piece of paper. Acting as mentors, they must help children open up. At this stage the child learns:

rules for mixing basic colors (red, yellow, blue);
ways to sketch the background;
criteria for combining several materials;
technique for making drawings realistic.

You should not dictate your rules to your child. It is better to follow the flight of his imagination, offering your ideas in the process. It is advisable to be close to your son or daughter when creating the first drawings, so that the children can voice their actions. Mom should ask leading questions that will help reveal the image and may require additional touches. In this unobtrusive way, the child’s imaginative thinking develops, his vocabulary increases, and his oratory abilities emerge.

Full drawings

Having understood the colors and shapes, the child will be able to draw independently. He will be ready to depict not just figures, but entire artistic compositions. If the mother regularly worked with the baby and was able to teach a 4-year-old child to draw, as a rule, he will then become familiar with various techniques on his own initiative. The main thing is to fuel his interest in this activity. The child must use various elements, details, sketch the background, learn to select shades, use several techniques in one drawing (prints with palms and cotton swabs, contours of tree leaves and splashes). The result should be a full-fledged drawing with meaning. Let it be simple, and let the objects be distorted or poorly painted. The main thing is the effort and development of the baby.

Most likely, the first drawings that a mother gradually taught a 4-year-old child to draw, as well as the subsequent ones, will be dedicated to nature or family members. Later, the child himself will choose a theme for his creativity, trying to depict everything he sees around him.

What do children's paintings say?

A child’s drawings, starting from the age of 4, convey his inner world. Children themselves are very impressionable. It is in the drawings that their main experiences are reflected. Psychologists often turn to this technique, associated with drawing, to understand the mental state of young patients. After all, the main thing is not how to teach a 5-year-old child to draw step by step, but how to understand the meaning of his drawings. When embodying his fantasies on paper, nothing limits the baby; he can express what he is not able to say in words or show with gestures.

It is worth paying attention to what colors and shades the child usually chooses and what techniques he uses. It is important to determine the location of the main characters, their mood, and what impression is left of the drawing as a whole. All this will help you understand the child’s emotions.

Art studios

You should not burden the little ones with additional activities. The attention of parents at home is quite enough. Only after 3-4 years can you send your child to an art studio or club if the child has a craving for creativity.

At this age, he will be interested in studying along with other children; he can imitate them and try to keep up. Classes are conducted in a playful way and do not overload the child’s body at all, but only have a positive effect on his psychological state. Following the advice of leaders, parents should help their child develop his abilities at home.

Types of drawing

When teaching drawing, take into account the age characteristics of the child

"Advice. When teaching children to draw, one should select methods that would arouse interest in drawing and evoke an emotional response in the child’s soul.”

What you need to teach your child to do first:

hold a pencil (brush, felt-tip pen) correctly in your hand
depict the simplest lines and shapes, “sticks” and “paths”
do not go beyond the contours of the drawing when coloring it

When the baby masters this initial arsenal of drawing skills, he will be able to put his ideas on paper, while feeling more confident.

It’s easy to implement ideas if you master the simplest types of drawing

Show your child the simplest types of drawing:

"Drawing in the air." One of the first drawing lessons can be a conventional drawing of lines and geometric shapes with a hand in the air. This can be done using your index finger or your entire palm. This type of initial drawing prepares the child to begin to depict something on paper. The same movements can be done on a straight, smooth surface, such as a table.
"Collaborative drawing." The next stage in teaching children to draw is when an adult guides the child’s hand with a pencil along the paper. The child sees how the image is created, and the adult comments on what happens. With the help of this type of drawing, the child learns to hold a pencil correctly, press it onto the paper and, ultimately, draw simple lines and shapes.
"Completing the details." This is drawing based on a workpiece, where part of the pattern is drawn (like a mirror image) or points for connection. The child must complete the details that are missing in the drawing by analogy with the image on the right or left, or connect the dots, thus obtaining a drawing. It’s better when the picture has a plot and the adult tells something exciting in accordance with the intended plot.
“I draw myself.” Having practiced all the basic types of drawing, the child will be ready to draw something himself. And an adult can help him by suggesting a plot for a drawing and giving him a task.

Image techniques

Introduce your child to those image techniques that are easy to master.

drawing lines (straight, wavy)
shading with short straight strokes
shading with long vertical and horizontal strokes
shading with oblique tear-off and continuous strokes
shading using extending strokes
image of round and rectangular objects
dab (brush)
painting (pencil, brush).

Watch the video in which an art teacher talks about where to start when teaching kids to draw.

How to teach a child to draw step by step

"Advice. There is no need to simplify the task too much by drawing objects for the child schematically. If you are drawing a house, then let it be surrounded by a dense forest, flowers, and funny animals. The drawing should be bright and attract the child.”

See how you can easily show your child how to draw a chicken:

Pick up a pencil

Teach your child how to use a pencil correctly

To properly organize your child’s learning to draw with a pencil, follow these recommendations:

Teach your child first to hold a pencil in his hand in the correct position, and then directly to learning to draw.
Help first: guide the baby's hand with your hand.
Start learning with straight and wavy lines, simple shapes, gradually “revitalizing” what you have drawn.
As soon as your child masters drawing simple large shapes, gradually complicate the tasks by inviting him to draw small details: a man near the house or fruits on a tree.

"Advice. While drawing, teach your child to recognize colors, select and combine them correctly.”

Remember that to consolidate the skill you need to regularly repeat exercises with a pencil.

Painting with paints

When starting to introduce your child to paints, choose watercolor and gouache.

Tips for parents on teaching their child to work with paints:

When starting to introduce your child to paints, choose watercolor and gouache. These paints are safe for children and are easy to wash.
Provide your baby with brushes of different sizes, which should be made of soft bristles. Brushes made from pony and squirrel hair are good - they are soft and inexpensive.
Stock up on thick drawing paper. The A-3 sheet format is ideal for the creativity of preschoolers.
Buy your baby a special sippy cup for washing brushes. Such a glass will not stain your beautiful carpet if your baby accidentally pushes it off the table.
It's good to have a palette for mixing colors. At first, a regular plastic plate will do.
Start the first lesson by talking about paints and brushes. It is better if it is a fairy tale or even a small theatrical performance.
Tell about flowers, supporting the story with visual materials (colorful pictures). Tell us clearly what color is used to paint.
Teach your child to hold a brush and use it: hold it in your hand, pick up paint, apply it to paper, rinse the brush, blot it. First, let the baby move a dry brush over the paper, practice the degree of pressure and the accuracy of the movements.
Start painting using one color at first. Let the child draw lines - straight and wavy, strokes, simple shapes with closed contours that can be colored. Show how to do dipping.
Learn in stages. When the baby masters drawing with one color, add another, then another.

Gradually, the child will learn to draw much more accurately.

“If an experienced teacher guides learning to draw, he will contribute to the child’s development of observation, creative imagination, and accuracy.”

It’s good when the baby attends a kindergarten or a child development center, where he will be taught to draw simple objects, closed lines, and color an outline.

“It is important that the child does not get upset if the intended drawing does not work out. Mark what turned out well in the drawing, praise the child, and comfort him if necessary. Offer to draw on this topic again.”

At what age can you teach a child to draw, why should you not be afraid of the color black in children’s drawings, are there mediocre children, and is it too late to become an artist after 30? We are talking with Lyudmila Zymaleva - artist, poet, journalist, photographer, master of artistic dolls as an art object, teacher of fine arts, author of many publications on teaching methods and art history.

Lyudmila Zymaleva with little students

Please tell us how your journey into the world of fine art and teaching began?

Among those who become artists, there are two types of people: some draw expressively from childhood, others discover their talent at a more conscious age, at the age of 11–12 (it is not by chance that admission to art schools occurs at this age). I'm from the latter. I always drew, but, like many children, I didn’t particularly stand out against the general background either in terms of results or interest in this process. And at the age of thirteen, I suddenly painted all summer and then entered a good art school.

Where do you teach? Who comes to learn drawing these days?

I teach students of different ages and in different educational institutions. A couple of years ago, from MSGU, from students, some of whom were older than me, I went to an art studio for 3-5 year old children, the next day I taught lessons in the primary classes of the school, and in the evening - classes in a studio on the basis of the school, with children who have pronounced artistic abilities. Thus, I teach both children and adults, in programs of both general educational institutions and professional ones. All this is very interesting, everywhere has its own specifics, which you must know, otherwise problems are inevitable.

You teach drawing to very young children, and sometimes these kids don’t even know how to speak well. What is special about this work? At what age can a child be taught to draw?

From my own experience, I can say that you can develop a child with the help of art starting from the age of three. It is precisely “to develop”, since learning is a process that takes place in art schools from about 11–12 years of age. The subtle difference between “fine arts development” and “fine arts teaching” lies in the purpose of these processes. For kids this goal is one, for schoolchildren - another, for art school students - third. But in any case, if a child was developed through the means of art, this is useful and important, even if he subsequently does not become an artist.

Does everyone really need to learn to draw? For what? Maybe, well, this is drawing, there are more important things - programming, foreign languages...

The childhood of a child is sometimes compared to the childhood of nations: every nation has folk dances, songs and visual arts. People have long been drawn to beauty, and a normally developing child also, to one degree or another, wants to dance, sing and draw. These activities allow him to better understand the world and express himself. Not allowing a child to draw means taking away part of his childhood, part of his beauty. Fine art has excellent opportunities for the development of abstract thinking - a type of thinking that, according to scientists, is characteristic only of humans. In addition, they draw to develop imagination and motor skills. Without developed motor skills there is no developed person, everyone knows perfectly well how important this is, and here fine arts classes are the best fit.

If we talk about drawing lessons at school, we should not forget that they allow the child, without interruption from a full-fledged educational process, to relax, immerse himself, express himself and, thanks to this, be ready to again study subjects that are more psychophysically demanding.

In life, the role of fine art, in my opinion, is beauty, and not always external. A child familiar with the rich world of fine art, its various directions and styles, will be a more flexible, tolerant, attentive and understanding member of society.

Talented children go to art schools, but sometimes they are abandoned. Why? Does anything need to be changed?

Many people actually drop out of music and sports school because they cannot withstand significant physical exertion. At an early age it is difficult to make an informed choice. But art school is less physical activity and usually a conscious choice, and almost everyone who enrolls graduates. Of course, there is some process of elimination, but this is normal, someone understands that they want to do something else, someone cannot cope with the program, and they may be expelled.

You often act as a member of the jury of children's drawing competitions. How much do you think the worldview of the current generation of children is shaped by modern cartoons and computer technology?

I'll probably surprise you with the answer. No way. Those who participate in such competitions are usually children with a certain level of general and artistic development, their familiarity with the riches of fine art of previous generations is great, and in the world around them they also see its various examples, including in the form of modern cartoons, of which there are many and the artistic quality of which varies greatly. Very rarely, when creating creative tasks, someone uses a pronounced style adopted in the animation of one direction or another, for example, in the anime style or Disney style. Such drawings are more often found in children who do not yet have any experience in visual arts, but at the same time try to copy their favorite characters.

Computer technologies and 3D graphics do not affect hand-made drawing in any way, and the Internet is used by such children, as a rule, only as a means to achieve a goal. For example, it is easy to find the necessary visual information on a competition topic on the Internet if you know in which direction to look.

To what extent do coloring, drawing from templates, and copying develop artistic abilities?

They are developing to a certain extent. Coloring and pattern drawing are rarely used by art teachers, as they have more effective methods in their arsenal. However, coloring books can develop to some extent stroke technique, coloristic vision, and drawing from a template - the ability to play with the same shape in different ways. Copying, with the right approach, is a full-fledged teaching method, known since ancient times. Another thing is that it must be combined with other methods and not take a leading role in training.

Are there any common cliches or misconceptions about doing fine art?

In short, you should not be afraid of black in children's works - this is usually caused by a craving for graphic contrast, and not by psychological problems. Art materials must always be selected of high quality and in the right combination, the principle “the baby is just starting out, this will do for him” is a wrong and dangerous approach.

The goal of different drawing lessons is different, “beautiful picture”, “similarity” (even in classical realism) cannot be an evaluation criterion. Before drawing conclusions regarding the child’s abilities, the success of the learning process and the professionalism of the teacher, it is necessary to carefully talk with the teacher himself in order to find out exactly what goals are set in different lessons, and why this or that result can be assessed differently by the teacher and the parent.

They often say: a child has no talent. It happens?

If this is what they say about a child over 14, who was developed through the means of art from childhood and who then tried to study at a vocational school, then this formulation is quite acceptable. If it is about a child under 14, or about a child who simply did not have the opportunity to study, then, of course, this is an erroneous formulation.

It should be noted that until the age of 12, interest in drawing and (to a lesser extent), success in this field should be considered as indicators of the child’s normal development, and not as “the presence of talent.”

Artist-teachers have such non-scientific terms as “adult talent” and “children’s talent.” It’s normal that not everyone has the first one, and it’s normal that almost everyone has the second one.

When can you start drawing? Is it too late at 30 or 40?

It is important to quickly understand why to start. Fine arts are not an “age-related activity” like sports, and do not require the same technical skills developed over the years as certain areas of music. It’s never too late to start “for yourself” as a hobby. And this can then turn into something more than just a hobby, but how and when is very individual for everyone. Here I really want to focus on what is more important, not WHEN to start, but HOW.

At a young age, starting “wrong” is almost impossible, especially if we are talking about beginnings in an art school with a certain status. An adult has little free time, but a lot of ideas about “how it should be,” expectations and ambitions. You need to very clearly formulate for yourself what exactly you want, or ask for help in this matter from an experienced artist-teacher.

Otherwise, it will turn out like with one of my friends, who finally decided to fulfill her dream of “drawing” and signed up for serious academic drawing courses from scratch in fairly large groups. As a result, after the first 6-10 hours of drawing geometric objects and draperies, she, having received some stress, did not achieve the expected result and made the wrong conclusion that “it was too late for her,” then she left the studio and made no further attempts to look for another one. Someone may be indignant as to why the teacher did not identify these problems during the courses. But this identification was not within the scope of his activities; he carried out the work of teaching academic drawing, albeit from scratch. The fact that a person came to him for a group lesson was not ready for such a load, and, perhaps, did not need it, you would not notice in two or three classes in this discipline, and no one approached him with questions.

Therefore, if you decide to take up drawing, you definitely need to discuss your expectations with your teacher, tell them what you would like to get in the end, how much time you have for this and other nuances.

What is the difference between art school and studio?

Art studio- part of the system of additional education, the goals can be varied, mainly development through the means of art. There are almost never exams, grades, or dropouts in the studio. A maximum individual approach is possible, working with children and adults of different ages.

Art school- the first stage of professional art education. Reception at 11 – 12 years based on the results of entrance tests, work in classes according to academic programs, evaluation system, screening out unsuccessful students. The goal is to identify the most gifted children and give them the basis for further continuing professional education.

Why are people only admitted to art school from the age of 11–12? After all, music begins to be taught much earlier.

This point is directly related to the psychophysical characteristics of the body and the characteristics of the subject being studied. In sports and music, the role of physiology is very important: if the body does not prepare for the load that awaits it from an early age, it will not be able to withstand it in the future. It is necessary to go in for sports and music from a very early age, some little athletes and musicians will continue their professional education, some will not, but due to the peculiarities of the formation of muscle memory, muscle training and body structure at the age of 12, only fairly gifted children can get involved in the process.

Despite the fact that learning fine arts also involves “working with the body,” purely physical training is not so important; a more formed mind is needed. That is why selection for art schools is made at approximately the age of twelve, when the child’s brain and vision have already been formed in a certain way and when the expression of artistic abilities can already be determined.

Please tell me, how do you feel about individual training in fine arts?

Without exaggeration, individual lessons with a student every time become a revelation even for an experienced artist-teacher. Only in one-on-one communication with a young artist are amazing mutual discoveries possible, the deepest penetration of the student into the personal world of the teacher and the teacher into the personal world of the student. The group form of classes is no worse or better, it’s just different, and there are no more or less positive aspects in it. The ideal combination is the work of a young artist with a teacher, both in a group and individually.

You teach at school and studio, draw, take photographs, write poetry, and learn Chinese. It’s impossible to list everything. Share your secret - how do you manage to do everything?

Firstly, everyone has their own reaction speed and ability to plan. I'm pretty good at both in my field, so I can get quite a lot of work done in a tight time frame. In addition, I always carefully collect and store various materials, articles, notes, programs, and other data (by the way, this applies not only to professional activities) - this stock is very important and often helps when unplanned situations arise.

And even earlier, I had a terrible secret that allowed me to work not just a lot, but a lot, and I think it is familiar to many - due to my sleep. Sometimes I slept for 3-4 hours. This works well for a certain type of person, mainly in youth, and usually, if you overdo it, has a bad effect on your health and future performance. Therefore, it is better to be very careful with this secret information.

But the real secret, which again is not a secret to anyone, but not everyone works in this direction, plus there are also different life circumstances and luck - I try to do what I love to do. Thus, the work is pleasant, there is positivity, and this helps to work more and better.

Interviewed by Alexandra Matrusova

Photos of children's drawings from the author's personal archive

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