52 Artist’s Dates for Your Homeschool ~
Written by Debbie Douse of An Adventurous Education
A wise friend of mine, knowing my desire to increase my creative flair, bought me an excellent book called The Artist’s Way. (afflink)
Fundamentally, this book encourages you to let go of what no longer serves you and instead make space for art in whichever forms call most to you. One of its key tenets is the concept of the artist date.
This is a permission slip to spend a couple of hours each week allowing your ‘inner artist’ to simply play.
The time should be spent alone, doing something that inspires you – fills your creative bucket so to speak – with no set outcome. Joyful, right?
I started adding this to my weekly planner. I’d bravely take myself out alone to the theatre to watch beautiful dancers or just ringfence time in my garden. My children’s interest was piqued.
I bought myself a stack of magazines to cut up into an inspiration board, and Rosie excitedly picked up what was left to make her own. Harry, noticing me book an oil painting class, asked if we could make it a mother-son date day instead. For months, I’d left a stack of photo frames hanging around ready to make a display of our travels.
It was an artist’s date destined not to happen… until Rosie decided she’d waited long enough and asked me with pleading eyes if she could please do some of them! Clearly the priority I was gifting my own creativity was motivating them to do the same.
So I brainstormed a list of 52 artist’s dates for your homeschool to stimulate all our imaginations.
The ardent Artist’s Way followers would insist these be done individually, and often, that works best.
But there’s also value to be gained doing them beside your loved ones, connecting through playful creation. And in a homeschool setting, it’s ideal for both bonding and interesting coursework that you might otherwise not have time for!
52 Artist’s Dates for Your Homeschool This Year:
- Print out uplifting quotes and make a collage
- Book a cookery course, design your own dinner party menu or forage for ingredients to use in a new recipe
- Redecorate your bedroom and paint a mural on the wall
- Attend a poetry recital or design your own with friends
- Have a go at the potter’s wheel
- Research Andy Goldsworthy’s art and create your own outdoor sculpture
- Have a seasonal photography competition amongst family members – who can take the best winter or spring photograph?
- Experience a new kind of theater, such as slapstick, mime or street theater
- Design a mood board of pictures for a story/scene you’re writing
- Try a new dance style, such as Irish or Flamenco
- Draw your favorite building in your local town
- Go wild swimming
- Introduce yourself to a new style of music and find a favorite song in this genre
- Pick some flowers from the garden to make a bouquet
- Plan a road trip
- People watch and create stories about each character
- Make a photo-book of your holidays
- Peruse a food market and taste foods you’ve never tried before
- Research and try a new craft technique, like macramé, book folding art or wire figure sculpting
- Go on a barefoot or night walk
- Create a collection of beautiful objects
- Visit an art gallery or museum
- Write a song
- Plant part of the garden as a beautiful sanctuary for you
- Design a comic strip
- Kayak or canoe down a river
- Draw the floor plan of your ideal home
- Bravely book a guided ghost walk
- Go to a comedy club or write a comedy sketch
- Make a ‘creative bucket list’
- Attend a writing class
- Make your own photo frame out of driftwood
- Learn to knit
- Explore unique shops with no agenda
- Survey the sunset or sunrise, or stargaze
- Watch an inspirational speaker
- Start a nature journal
- Enjoy a music festival or concert
- Try workshops to learn new skills, such as juggling, leather working or soap making
- Create a Pinterest board for a hobby or passion
- Bake a new type of cake or pastry
- Add hygge to your home
- Plan, save and buy a new outfit
- Make a Christmas wreath
- Start a sewing project, such as new curtains, a patchwork quilt or new skirt
- Enjoy a coloring or doodle book
- Try a new type of painting class, like oil, Batik or watercolors
- Start a blog, Substack or YouTube channel
- Sit by the river and write a poem
- Venture into previously unexplored areas of an art/stationery shop
- Make a photo display
- Write 10 things you’d love to be brave enough to do; chose one and do it!
Having experienced my own artist’s date last night – a talk from the intrepid explorer Simon Reeve – I can attest to the uplifting impact on your imagination.
Here’s to building a creative 2025!
* Find more of Debbie’s inspirational writing on Simple Homeschool here.
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52 Artist’s Dates for Your Homeschool ~ Written by Debbie Douse of An Adventurous Education A wise friend of mine, knowing my desire to increase my creative flair, bought me an excellent book called The Artist’s Way. (afflink) Fundamentally, this book encourages you to let go of what no longer serves you and instead make … Read More curriculum, field trips, art, interest-led learning, nature study Simple Homeschool