Best Art Curriculum for Homeschool: 5 Programs for Every Style

The best art curriculum for most homeschool families is ArtAchieve for its combination of video-based instruction, multicultural connections, and accessibility to parents with no art background. If you prefer a more classical approach with art history and technique-building, Artistic Pursuits provides a richer framework. And if your child simply needs space to create, process art with quality supplies is more valuable than any curriculum. Below, we review five art programs that actually teach children to draw, paint, and appreciate art — not just fill in coloring pages.

Why Art Deserves a Place in Your Homeschool

Art is not a frill. It is not the subject you squeeze in after "real" schoolwork is done, and it is not something only talented children should pursue. Art education develops visual thinking, fine motor control, patience, attention to detail, creative problem-solving, and the ability to see — really see — the world around you.

Charlotte Mason considered art appreciation and hands-on art making essential components of a complete education. The classical tradition recognized art as central to human culture. And modern research confirms what artists have always known: creating art strengthens the same neural pathways used in scientific observation, mathematical thinking, and written expression.

Yet many homeschool parents skip art because they feel unqualified. "I can barely draw a stick figure" is the most common excuse. The programs below solve that problem. Every one of them is designed for parents who do not consider themselves artists. Your job is to provide the materials, press play (in some cases), and step back.

1. ArtAchieve

ArtAchieve is a video-based art curriculum that teaches drawing, painting, and mixed media through multicultural art projects. Each lesson connects art to a specific culture, country, or tradition, integrating geography and social studies naturally.

How it teaches: Each lesson follows a consistent structure: a warm-up exercise (often a breathing or relaxation activity), a brief cultural introduction, step-by-step video instruction where the teacher demonstrates techniques while students follow along, and time for personal creative choices within the project framework. Lessons run 45-90 minutes including independent work time.

Pros:

• Video instruction means zero art knowledge required from the parent
• The multicultural connections add depth and meaning to every project
• Warm-up activities teach children to calm their minds before creating — a valuable life skill
• Step-by-step instruction builds real techniques (shading, perspective, color mixing)
• Flexible — watch at your own pace, pause, rewind
• Projects produce impressive, frame-worthy results that build confidence
• Available as individual lessons or yearly subscriptions ($50-80/year)
• Works for a wide age range (5-14) with differentiated instruction

Cons:

• Screen-based instruction (though the actual art-making is screen-free)
• Lessons can run long for younger children — plan to split some across two sessions
• Less emphasis on free creative expression than process-art approaches
• The step-by-step format can feel restrictive for naturally creative children
• Requires gathering specific art supplies for each lesson
• Some projects work better with specific materials that you may not have on hand

Best for: Ages 5-14. The best choice for parents who feel unqualified to teach art. ArtAchieve proves that you do not need to be an artist to give your children a meaningful art education. The multicultural connections also make it a beautiful complement to your history curriculum.

2. Atelier Art Curriculum

Atelier (French for "artist's workshop") is a DVD/streaming-based art curriculum that teaches drawing, painting, and art appreciation through sequential lessons designed to build skills progressively. Created by artist and educator Alyssa Navapanich, it emphasizes both technique and creative freedom.

How it teaches: Each level contains approximately 30 lessons organized into themed units. The instructor demonstrates techniques on video while students work alongside, but lessons also include open-ended creative challenges that encourage personal expression. Art appreciation components introduce children to famous artists and movements.

Pros:

• Beautiful production quality — the videos are clear, professional, and well-paced
• Balances structured technique instruction with creative freedom
• Art appreciation components teach children about famous artists and styles
• Progressive skill building across levels — each level builds on the last
• High-quality supply lists ensure students work with real art materials, not craft supplies
• The instructor's calm, encouraging style puts children at ease
• Produces genuinely skilled young artists over time

Cons:

• Requires purchasing specific high-quality art supplies (the supply list is detailed and not cheap)
• Subscription or DVD cost is higher than some alternatives ($100-130 per level)
• Less multicultural focus than ArtAchieve
• Some projects assume fine motor readiness that younger children may not have
• Fewer total lessons per level than some parents expect for the price
• The progressive nature means starting mid-program can leave skill gaps

Best for: Ages 5-12. Families who want structured, progressive art instruction that produces real artistic skill while respecting creative individuality. Atelier is the art curriculum equivalent of taking private lessons from a talented, patient teacher.

3. Artistic Pursuits

Artistic Pursuits is a book-based art curriculum (no videos) that combines art appreciation, art history, and hands-on projects in a classical education framework. Each book covers a specific art historical period and teaches corresponding techniques.

How it teaches: Each unit opens with art appreciation — studying works by master artists, discussing composition, color, and technique. Students then complete related hands-on projects that teach the techniques they have observed. The curriculum follows a four-year cycle aligned with the classical model of ancient, medieval, early modern, and modern periods.

Pros:

• Deep integration of art history and hands-on practice — children learn why artists made certain choices
• Aligns with a four-year classical history cycle — coordinates beautifully with Story of the World or similar programs
• Teaches children to observe and analyze art, not just make it
• No screen required — everything is in the book
• Encourages children to develop their own artistic voice within structured projects
• Multiple levels available from preschool through high school
• The art appreciation component is among the best available for homeschoolers

Cons:

• Requires more parent involvement than video-based programs — you need to study the lessons yourself
• The book format means no one demonstrates techniques in real time
• Some projects are challenging for beginners without a more experienced guide
• Supply lists can be extensive and expensive
• The classical alignment limits flexibility — less useful for families not following a four-year cycle
• Newer editions are significantly more expensive than older versions

Best for: Ages 6-14. Classical homeschool families who want art integrated with their history cycle, and families who value art appreciation as much as art making. Artistic Pursuits creates children who can walk into a museum and actually engage with what they see.

4. Drawing with Children by Mona Brookes

Drawing with Children is not a full curriculum but a method — a book by Mona Brookes that teaches children (and adults) to draw by breaking every image down into five basic elements of shape: dots, circles, straight lines, curved lines, and angles.

How it teaches: Brookes' method starts with the principle that everyone can learn to draw, just as everyone can learn to write. Her five elements of shape serve as an alphabet of drawing — once you can make these five marks, you can draw anything by combining them. The book includes step-by-step lessons, warm-up exercises, and progressively complex projects.

Pros:

• Teaches a genuine, transferable skill — the ability to see and draw any subject
• Demystifies drawing for both children and parents who believe they "cannot draw"
• The five-element method is simple, memorable, and effective
• Very affordable — one book covers the entire approach ($15-20)
• Can be used alongside any other art curriculum or independently
• Builds confidence rapidly — children produce recognizable drawings quickly
• The method works across ages and ability levels

Cons:

• Focused entirely on drawing — does not cover painting, sculpture, or other media
• No art appreciation or art history component
• The book format requires the parent to study and lead lessons
• Some children find the structured approach to drawing constraining
• Projects in the book show their age (originally published in 1986)
• Does not provide a full year of sequential lessons — more of a method than a curriculum

Best for: Ages 5-12. An outstanding foundation for any art education. We recommend starting here if you or your child believe you "cannot draw." Once the five-element method clicks, everything else in art becomes more accessible. Use it as a warm-up to any other curriculum on this list.

5. Masterpiece Society

Masterpiece Society is a membership-based art education program that combines art appreciation, hands-on projects, art history, and nature journaling into a Charlotte Mason-inspired framework. It is designed specifically for homeschool families.

How it teaches: Members access a library of video-based art lessons organized by medium (drawing, watercolor, acrylic, mixed media), art appreciation studies of famous artists and periods, nature journaling tutorials, and seasonal art projects. New content is added regularly, and the community component includes live online classes and challenges.

Pros:

• Charlotte Mason-inspired approach integrates picture study, nature journaling, and hands-on art
• Growing library of video lessons across multiple media and skill levels
• Nature journaling component connects art to science and outdoor time
• Community features provide motivation and connection with other homeschool artists
• Monthly membership model is more affordable than purchasing a full curriculum upfront ($15-25/month)
• Regular new content means you never run out of lessons
• Live classes add accountability and social learning opportunities
• The Charlotte Mason picture study component is excellent and hard to find elsewhere

Cons:

• Subscription model means ongoing cost rather than a one-time purchase
• The library can feel overwhelming — hard to know where to start
• Less structured and sequential than Atelier or Artistic Pursuits
• Quality varies across the large lesson library — some lessons are stronger than others
• Requires internet access for each lesson
• The community features may not appeal to all families
• Less progressive skill building than a sequential curriculum

Best for: Ages 5-14. Charlotte Mason homeschool families who want a comprehensive art education that includes picture study, nature journaling, and hands-on projects. Masterpiece Society is particularly valuable for its nature journaling instruction, which is hard to find in other art curricula and integrates beautifully with the Charlotte Mason approach.

Process Art vs. Structured Art: Finding the Balance

One of the biggest debates in children's art education is whether to teach technique (structured art) or let children explore freely (process art). The answer, of course, is both.

Process Art (Free Exploration)

Give your child quality materials — real watercolors, thick drawing paper, oil pastels, clay — and let them create without any instruction, expectation, or template. If you have toddlers or preschoolers, our collection of process art ideas for toddlers is a great place to start. Process art develops:

• Creative confidence and risk-taking
• Personal expression and emotional processing
• Experimentation with materials and techniques
• Independence and self-direction
• Joy in making — the pure pleasure of creating something

Structured Art (Technique Instruction)

Teach your child specific skills — how to shade, how to mix colors, how to draw what they see — through guided lessons. Structured art develops:

• Technical skill that enables more complex expression
• Observation skills (learning to truly see what is in front of you)
• Art historical knowledge and appreciation
• Patience and attention to detail
• The ability to translate what they imagine onto paper

The ideal homeschool art education includes both. Set aside time each week for free exploration with quality materials (no instruction, no expectations), and also schedule one or two structured art lessons using any of the curricula above.

Essential Art Supplies for Homeschool

You do not need a massive art supply collection. These basics cover the needs of most elementary curricula:

Drawing:

• Quality drawing pencils (Ticonderoga or Staedtler)
• Colored pencils (Prismacolor colored pencils or Faber-Castell colored pencils — avoid cheap sets)
• A good eraser (Staedtler Mars plastic)
• Drawing paper or a sketchbook (at least 60 lb weight)

Painting:

• Student-grade watercolors (Prang watercolors or Crayola oval watercolor set — not the cheap rectangular pans)
• Round watercolor brushes in 2-3 sizes
• Watercolor paper (90 lb minimum — regular paper buckles)
• A palette for mixing

Other essentials:

• Oil pastels (Cray-Pas or Pentel oil pastels)
• Scissors and glue
• A smock or old shirt
• A protected workspace or tablecloth

Invest in quality over quantity. One set of good colored pencils serves a child better than a bag full of cheap supplies that frustrate and disappoint.

Our Recommendation

For most homeschool families, start with ArtAchieve. Its video-based instruction removes the "I am not an artist" barrier, the multicultural connections add educational depth, and the projects build real skills while producing results that make children proud.

If you value art appreciation and want art integrated with your classical history cycle, choose Artistic Pursuits.

If you want a Charlotte Mason approach with picture study and nature journaling, Masterpiece Society provides the most comprehensive package.

And regardless of which curriculum you choose, make time for process art — free, unstructured creative exploration with quality materials. Bringing art outdoors through nature art projects is another wonderful way to combine creativity with the natural world. Some of your child's most important artistic development will happen when no one is teaching them anything at all.

Art is not about producing frame-worthy masterpieces (though that is a nice bonus). It is about developing the ability to see clearly, think creatively, and express what words alone cannot capture. Every child deserves that ability, and every parent — regardless of their own artistic skill — can provide it.