Why Children Love Classical Art Instruction
- Darya
- Apr 9
- 4 min read
All children naturally love to draw, but many stop around age 9 or 10 when they become frustrated that their drawings “don’t look real." Classical art instruction can help aspiring artists of any age learn to really see the world around them and train the skill to draw and paint it to their satisfaction. When a young artist starts noticing how shadows work, or how a complex shape (like an animal) can simplified into familiar shapes, or the warmth or coolness of a color impacts the sense of depth—that’s when the magic happens.
That’s why I teach classical art methods to children and adults. They’re timeless, structured, and designed build real skills—not just in art, but in observation, focus, and creative problem solving.
What Classical Art Instruction Includes
When people hear "classical art," they think of fancy paintings hanging in a museum. But classical art is really about learning how to see and how to build something from scratch. It’s a step-by-step approach that’s been used for centuries in top art schools around the world:
Observation Drawing – Training the eye to notice shapes, shadows, and proportion.
Memory Drawing – Practicing how to hold an image in your mind and recreate it.
Perspective – Figuring out how to draw space and depth realistically on a flat page.
Composition – Arranging visual elements to make a piece feel balanced and intentional.
Color Theory – Learning how colors work together, contrast, and create mood and style.
Painting from Life – Using real objects, people, or scenes to understand light and form.
Art History – Introducing young artists to the great painters, sculptors, and movements that shaped our visual culture.
Aesthetic Appreciation – Helping kids notice and value beauty—not just in museums, but in everyday life.
It’s Not Just About Drawing—It’s About Thinking
Learning classical art does more than improve technical skill. There are deep, long-term benefits for the brain and character.
Research has shown that art training strengthens memory, attention, and emotional regulation. In fact, a study in Frontiers in Psychology found that even short periods of practicing visual arts can positively change brain function—especially in areas related to memory and emotion (Bolwerk et al., 2014).
A 2021 review in Arts & Health also noted that kids involved in art are more likely to develop patience, self-confidence, and emotional resilience (Guyotte et al., 2021).
And that’s not all. Art helps children:
Become more detail-oriented
Improve visual discernment (the ability to see small differences in shape, light, texture)
Strengthen focus and attention
Build creative problem-solving skills
Develop a personal sense of beauty and aesthetics
Increase attention span
These are skills that help in school, in work, in relationships, and in life.
Why Start Studying Art When You're Young?
Children are naturally curious and observant. They notice colors, faces, patterns—and they want to make sense of it all. Classical art gives them the tools to explore those instincts. It also teaches them that skill takes time, effort, patience and revision—and that’s a powerful lesson in itself.
One of the reasons that starting art at a young age can be so valuable is because it is much easier to learn good habits versus having to unlearn and re-learn. This is especially important for properly seeing form, color and perspective. By teaching children these skills early they will avoid becoming frustrated and losing confidence in their skills. Instead these foundational skills and knowledge will enable them to pursue drawing the things they love.
How does Classical Art instruction foster "Creativity" and "Self Expression?"
Classical art instruction always includes self-initiated projects and encourages students to experiment and to pursue subjects that interest them.
Modern day public school art programs focus entirely on following instructions and doing crafts. You will see many "creative" and colorful projects but at the end of the day the young student is no closer to being able to draw the things they love and want to draw (like their dog or cat, horses, robots, or human faces.) Classical art instruction always focuses on building foundational artistic skills that enable the young artist to do their own work to their satisfaction.
Even when drawing still life, we don't have to stick to apples and grapes. We can draw our favorite childhood toys, delicious cupcakes from our favorite bakery, include items with special meaning, and even incorporate past art projects or crafts into the scene. Because every student has a different angle on the scene in front of them, every single art work will be different, showing the students that even when we're looking at the same information we see things a little differently.
Just like learning how to speak and write enables us to better process and experess our ideas, so does learning drawing and painting. Its not for nothing that even our most ancient ancestors told and preserved stories through drawings.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, teaching classical art is about giving children a way to slow down, focus, and appreciate the world. It’s about helping them notice what others miss. And it’s about building a foundation—not just for art—but for attention, discipline, and wonder.
If you’re curious about classes or want to learn more about what I teach, feel free to reach out.
Comments