How to encourage DD who loves art?

[Lilpia]

DD is eleven and as soon as she was able to, starting to draw. She loves art and (although I'm biased) I think she's quite talented. This is an example of one of her latest pieces of art work.

I have no clue where she gets it from because I am terrible at art. Honestly, think stick men drawing haha.

How do I encourage her? She spends the majority of time going some kind of art work, and I spent a small fortune on materials for her to practice. Just thinking of any other ways to help or just let her carry on?

She hadn't finished the neck part of the drawing - so does look a bit odd from the head down!

I would let her crack on! She will find tutorial videos etc for things she wants to draw. If she has a laptop, maybe a graphics tablet might be a nice present (depending on budget)? Or a stand-alone iPad or similar? And plenty of encouragement that "just drawing" is a good use of time.

(My DD is at currently at art school and having the time of her life, and that's what we did, anyway!)

That's interesting @PhotoDad . Would you mind telling me more about art school and the process ?

I would ask her.

Is she inspired by going to galleries and museums?
Would she like to go somewhere to draw? (Maybe once the weather is better)
I would search for events that may be targeted to her age group.
My school do digital art qualifications once they get to GCSE. Does that kind of thing interest her or does she prefer pen and paper?
I think that her picture looks great 👍🏻

Art school as in university-level art! Happy to share my experience, but really the first step is simply to choose GCSE Art (or another design subject), then A-level Art (or another design subject), or vocational equivalents. And that isn't for a few years yet in your DD's case. Then it becomes more difficult with various more specialised courses (and the option of a one-year Foundation in Art & Design course).

Take her to art galleries, look out for child events at local galleries — one near us runs art classes during half term and school holidays, and DS’s school, also nearby, had an artist in the community scheme where the children collaborated on art projects with practising artists and the results were professionally hung and curated in the university gallery. DS (10) and I watch Sky Portrait Artist of the Year together.

Make sure she has plenty of materials of all kinds, don't have to be expensive. Expose her to as much art as you can, take a sketch book walking. Watch Sky ArtsPortrait / Landscape/ Artist of the year.... and most importantly IMO don't let anybody dash her enthusiasm with negativity, constructive criitism yes but none of the" art doesn't get you anywhere " bollocks. It can and does , we can't all be suits!xxx

As the previous poster said get her into digital art as well. My Dd was always drawing away, we bought her a graphics tablet at about the same age.

She did an arts degree and now has a fab, well paid job using her digital art skills.

Yours DD’s art is lovely, do make sure you keep some of it (and write a date or her age on it). It will be lovely to look back on it years later and see the progression.

Relatives tend to latch onto something like this, so you need to make sure that she doesn’t get art supplies from everybody every Christmas and every birthday.

Also, be prepared to buy her good quality stuff when she’s ready. Childrens crayons and drawing pads are rubbish quality.

I found it a real blessing that my DD had found her passion in life so young.

@Isheabastard Always glad to hear of success stories of DC who went to art school!

Relatives tend to latch onto something like this, so you need to make sure that she doesn’t get art supplies from everybody every Christmas and every birthday.

My DD is still using supplies stockpiled from while she was a teen...! Agree that good quality materials are definitely worth it.

Encourage drawing from life. Start with graphite pencils, 2Bs are perfect for beginning sketching, the higher the B the darker and more smudgie the pencil, HB is hard soft and the H pencils are lighter but give fine sharper lines.

Get a nice paper sketch book and draw from life.

Start with the basic shapes, balls, cubes, get a spotlight and learn shadows, dark light, ovals, perspective.

Even just drawing a spoon on a table deceptively diffiyt with reflections etc.

Draw cups, fruit, teddies, a chair.

Anything that doesn't move to start with.

You may have to fight her corner if she wants to do more than 1 creative subject at GCSE level.

Treat art as an important activity- not a reward activity

Galleries

Many students think that there are no creative jobs, so no point taking it. Actively look for successful creative people who can inspire

Remember - art is its own reward