Dysgraphia and Art

[displace]

Any recs for art with a dysgraphic? DS doesn't like it because he's frustrated that it doesn't turn out the way he wants. I understand because my art is the same. I try to pick projects that are science and Art for interest and with no goal project (free form). He seems to enjoy the process at the moment but says he doesn't afterwards.

 

I have home art studio but implementation has been weak with me. I do like that there's no other kids in the video to compare with. I'd love to outsource but I don't want DS to feel embarrassed, which he does around others doing things like that.

 

Maybe home art studio that I have, different media, ???

[PeterPan]

Have you thought about something like collage or photo editing or video making?  Like go a totally different direction, kwim?  Our library has a beautiful book on how Eric Carl does his collages.  You paint tissue paper with patterns and then rip and snip and layer to create collages.  Wouldn't be so fine motor.  

 

If he's engineering inclined, he might like sewing.  My ds6 is begging me to teach him.  I think he'd like to sew dog clothes, bags, basic things he can visualize the components for.  

 

He can do the photo and editing on an ipad using apps.  Not saying to try LightRoom/Photoshop on him, lol.  My ds has been doing some simple stuff on his kindle, taking pictures and making slideshows.  Give him documentary-style projects, telling stories, and let him add music and transitions.  

 

Ds has been wanting to learn to make apps.  I actually don't know how to do it myself.  Isn't there some kind of app that teaches this?  

 

I don't know.  I spent years thinking I hated art and wasn't artistic.  Then I realized I'm creative just in OTHER ways.  Explore fractals as art.  Create things and print them on canvases through Walgreens (not expensive, great coupons) and put them on your wall!  Do NEW art, art that doesn't require so much nitpicky fine motor.  There are lots of valid kinds of art.

[Heathermomster]

DS sews with a vintage hand crank machine and began that in pre-k. DS took art once a week while sitting in a nt classroom. He did well with chalk and pastels. He also helped his Dad with woodworking,

[PeterPan]

DS sews with a vintage hand crank machine and began that in pre-k. DS took art once a week while sitting in a nt classroom. He did well with chalk and pastels. He also helped his Dad with woodworking,

Ooo, so I'm NOT crazy!!  Ds has been asking for machine sewing.  I was just gonna put the Bernina on turtle speed.  If his fingers are in danger, he could hand crank. Love the idea of chalk and pastels.  I have some Creating a Masterpiece dvds I've been wanting to try with him, as in both of us doing them.  I think her personality would fit ours.  

 

Hmm, woodworking.  I should think about that more. Maybe we can find some cool links or something!   :)

 

[displace]

Yes, these ideas are what I'm needing, thinking outside the box stuff!

[PeterPan]

Here's that book  Artist to Artist: 23 Major Illustrators Talk to Children About Their Art

[Heathermomster]

Ooo, so I'm NOT crazy!! Ds has been asking for machine sewing. I was just gonna put the Bernina on turtle speed. If his fingers are in danger, he could hand crank. Love the idea of chalk and pastels. I have some Creating a Masterpiece dvds I've been wanting to try with him, as in both of us doing them. I think her personality would fit ours.

 

Hmm, woodworking. I should think about that more. Maybe we can find some cool links or something! :)

When I say woodworking, DS didn't saw or cut. He used a cordless screwdriver and handed his dad things. DH is patient that way. DS also painted the finished product. They worked on pinewood derby cars together. DS would design then and DH would be there to help make the car happen.

 

I may have a hand crank assembly hanging around if you need one. The cranks work on old Singer black heads with spoked wheels. I used to sew a lot and DS was enamoured with my machines. I also collected and refurbished them so DS used to watch me pull machines apart, clean them, and sew on them.

[PeterPan]

On the pinewood derby cars, would it be interesting to make the multiple ways with modifications and test them?  

 

Thanks for the offer on the hand crank.  One thing at a time.  My life is sorta crazy right now, so I'll probably start him on turtle speed and see if he can do it safely that way.  If he can, it's the simplest solution.  If he can't, you may get a buzz.  Or there may be something available locally.  :)

[PeterPan]

Btw, displace didn't ask for this rant, but I think art *appreciation* is a valid approach too, kwim?  Like just because somebody isn't overflowing with art doesn't mean they wouldn't appreciate picture study or analyzing techniques used by illustrators (a more cerebral approach to art), etc., kwim?  Art doens't have to be only output.

[OneStepAtATime]

DD loves sketching with charcoal and has found tons of you tube videos to help her. She picks one small thing to work on at a time. Right now she is working on drawing wolf eyes.

 

She also loved taking leftover whatever and refashioning/retasking. She created a mobile out of cut up old clothing and two old embroidery hoops. She took an old branch sprsy paited it and stuck it in an old pot for her to hang jewelry on. She made an entire outfit if clothing out of elephant ears and palm fronds. It even had shoes and ways to latch and unlatch the shirt.

 

DD is also starting to get into loom weaving. You might look into looms. Really cool.

 

All of this is from my child who thought art was a waste of time. When she had to color anything in she would just scribble wildly across the page for a few seconds and tell me she had colored it "efficiently".

 

She does much better with "outside the box".

[Heathermomster]

My pencil phobic DD with the suspected motor planning issues likes to rip and glue things. Over the last few weeks, we have sat at the kitchen table to draw while listening to LOTR. I picked up some basic how to draw type books, and we use colored pencils and sketch pads. She has no patience for step by step intructions but will work on butterflies. She prefers drawing with markers and using watercolors. The quality of the colored pencils seems to make a difference with her. For colored pencils, she likes the Koo I Noors.

 

DD takes a Friday art class and likes using pastels too.

[Heathermomster]

I was thinking about purchasing this next year.

 

I don't formalize art teaching.  My kids pick up on whatever I am doing and emulate with the exception of beading.  My DD loves beading.  Both of my kids can knit and have helped me kool aid dye wool.  They both enjoy card making.  DD loves to weave using a basic loom.  I don't call that art but rather life.

[rdj2027]

Photography, computer aided art, music and my very dysgraphic son is doing a rather decent job when it comes to sculpting and pottery.

[displace]

I was thinking about purchasing this next year.

 

I don't formalize art teaching. My kids pick up on whatever I am doing and emulate with the exception of beading. My DD loves beading. Both of my kids can knit and have helped me kool aid dye wool. They both enjoy card making. DD loves to weave using a basic loom. I don't call that art but rather life.

I saw that and it looks really nice. I can't imagine teaching someone with no skills how to do that, though. But I'm not great at art so I wonder if it's just how I was taught.

[Timberly]

.

[mommymonster]

DS9 isn't technically dysgraphic, buttttt.... he has definite challenges with writing and generally using his hands. Fun ideas we've done this year:

 

• Go to the local art museum and have DS "review" the art. We found that Renoir got "thumbs down" for being "lame" (heaven help me) while the more modern artists were generally awesome. This meant that we focused on modern art and the more experimental stuff when we painted our own works. Take photos of the thumbs up or down, and have them narrate a review of what they liked/didn't like about each work. My oldest liked the painted/hot glued TV that played dystopian cartoons. Well, we then fired up the glue gun and plastic thingies and a piece of wood as a base. Fine art? Uh, no. But it got him going. 
• I've set up an "art table" with paints, markers, a glue gun, paper, stickers and tons of bits that one DS can use while the other one does his lessons.
• Doing "art" on 3x5 unlined notecards helped make the projects seem doable.
• We tried paper marbling, which worked well.
• Nature weaving was interesting.  :)
• Paper mache was a bit of a train wreck (sensory issues), but it might work.
• Potholder weaving was surprisingly successful. 

 

We try to do something once a week or so. 

[displace]

I'm so glad I started this thread! I have a loom kit I was going to use as an OT type exercise, and now I'm excited to try it out, and call it art!

 

Love that museum review idea. I'll have to plan a field trip!

 

I just learned there's free admission Friday afternoons. Score!

[OneStepAtATime]

I'm so glad I started this thread! I have a loom kit I was going to use as an OT type exercise, and now I'm excited to try it out, and call it art!

 

Love that museum review idea. I'll have to plan a field trip!

 

I just learned there's free admission Friday afternoons. Score!

:hurray:  :hurray:  :hurray:

 

I ran out of likes or I would be liking a lot of posts.  "Like" everyone....

[Heathermomster]

I saw that and it looks really nice. I can't imagine teaching someone with no skills how to do that, though. But I'm not great at art so I wonder if it's just how I was taught.

Have you seen this Cathy Duffy review?  

 

When DS was your son's age, we allowed him to use two programs on the computer.  One program was Paintbrush and the other was a 3D Home Designer.  DS used to draw crazy houses on the computer and then fill the yards with objects.  DH and I really enjoyed the houses that he came up with.

 

When he was just turned 8 years old and we brought his sister home, I handed over an empty box, cheesecloth, and my camera that would film video.  DS spent a long time making mini movies using Star Wars action figures and sets.  I have tons of videos where he filmed his sister while talking like Richard Attenborough.  Last year, DS was using Sketchup and modeling common household items and designing AirSoft field plans on closed down golf courses.  Now, he uses Adobe Elements and texturizes guns and WWII Aircraft files that can be inserted into his games.  

 

When DS was younger, we watched motorcycle and car build shows with the sound off.  DS started drawing WWII airplanes providing top, side, and front views.  I never really think about this stuff.  We just feed the child and have gone in several directions over the years.  We gave him a GoPro for Christmas.  I'm sorry I keep adding stuff.  I just don't ordinarily give thought to these things.