In my state, high school elective credits are counted 2 ways: by either hours or by finishing a course. So, even if your son's work does not look high school level to you - legally - it can count. Your son will improve in skill and develop his appreciation of art even more. Some people draw more intuitively, other people are more mathematical/analytic in the way their brains work. Either way, practice in class time is good. Drawing is more learning how to see than learning how to draw. If you want to do drawing, I just looked at a website another mom on the forum recommended: http://thevirtualinstructor.com/members/ I had never seen this before. I usually recommend Artistic Pursuits when people ask me for suggestions. Clear teaching from a book, video, or live teacher can make drawing so much easier! I also like Carrie Parks series on portrait drawing. For him, you might want to consider something from the North Light Books series on perspective drawing and basic shading of solid forms. Once person understands perspective, it makes drawing everything else so much easier. Honestly, the virtual instructor website I saw yesterday looks amazing! Would your son also enjoy trying something hands on like pottery or printmaking? He can apply art concepts without a drawing as the finished product; it might just be a step in preparation. Local art museums often have classes for young people that last 6 or 8 weeks. It sounds like you have done a good job in giving him fine arts background.

A mature student can self start and do great. Though in my experience, even talented young people need guidance. This is why I recommend the books. Artistic Pursuits is my favorite choice when you don't have a teacher. I have seen used copies at homeschool classifieds website. Any technique book that is written in an engaging way will give someone guidance. As a parent, you will have to help her schedule a specific time and days to work. Without a plan, or a teacher - it can be hard to know where to start. As the parent, you can help her with planning a specific time, think of it as scheduling practice time for a musical instrument - this time it is just another fine art. When resources are limited - like time or money- as the parent, you can still help growth happen by helping your daughter plan. I do like the point of the reply above, keep media interest in mind. It is wise. Another option is to check your local art museum school. Many of these museums have classes for young people in various media such as drawing, clay, jewelry making, stained glass, painting, etc. In my town, the classes are cheaper than having a private teacher. I have not checked the school house magazine website with all of their classes. Homeschool Buyers coop has lots of art stuff all the time. The more you look, the more options you will come up with. Craft stores like Michaels, JoAnnes, Hobby Lobby offer various short term classes that might be a good jump start for getting going in a direction of independent study. A class designed for adults might make an exception and let an interested high school student in. When I was in college, I taught art lessons to local homeschool children. If you have a university in your town, you might be able to call their art department, and make some contacts for possible college age tutors. Bob Jones Press has an out of print high school art book from Kathy Bell. I have seen it on the CBC website as well. I have a few copies of it. While there are things about it that it that I like, the book is written with the assumption that the student has prior art history knowledge. I will look on my studio shelf and see if, there is anything else that I have that might be an option worth considering as you research. Since your daughter in a rising 9th grader, whatever art time she does can count toward an elective credit - depending on your state laws. So, she can do a 1/2 credit of art 1 with whatever book or path you choose. Oh, your local museum might also be doing a highschool art camp - this next summer. Some universities offer these for high school students too.

Hello Suzanne, The curriculum that I recommend for art is Artistic Pursuits. They have books for several levels- elementary up through senior high. I have personally written reviews about this publisher's books for a marketing company and these books are good quality teaching. The emphasis is learning how "to see," not so much learning a formula how to draw. The books that I reviewed gave instruction in a variety of media with references to specific age appropriate examples of art history. These are not art history primarily, but a nice balance of art technique, art vocabulary, and art history. Yesterday, I also found a website for online classes: Dreaming Spires. They have an art history course with an optional combination of writing and evaluating. It looks like an interesting course. http://www.dreamingspireshomelearning.com/p/new-art-appreciation-course.html?m=1 What age is your student? Is there a specific artistic interest such as watercolor, portraits, illustration, landscape, calligraphy, oils, etc... I also recommend some of the specific media guides from North light books. I have a few of the older guides for marker techniques and they are great for an independent learner. Also Drawing Realistic Faces by Carrie Stuart Parks, Mona Brooks' Drawing with Older Children and Teens, and the Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain - are also good places to start. Whatever source you choose, finding one that mixes technique with learning to apply art concepts such as line, color, form, balance, etc... will help your student. I am a homeschool mom and an art teacher. I have been teaching art to students of various ages for over 20 years.