Homeschool Art Made Easy: A Review of the You ARE an ARTiST Membership

Art is one of those subjects I’ve always had a hard time making happen regularly in our homeschool. It was either complicated, messy, or both. So, imagine my delight when I found a resource that makes it super easy! No more dropping the ball on art. the You ARE an ARTiST Membership (via ChalkPastel.com) will make you a homeschool mom rock star in this department. (Score!)

I requested the membership in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own (and we’ve used this for a couple of years now)!

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If you’re juggling littles and teens, meal prep, the laundry monster, and the deep desire to weave beauty and creativity into your homeschool without overloading yourself, the You ARE an ARTIST Membership may just be one of those blessed resources that truly fits.

Here’s what I love about it:

• Open-and-go lessons with lo- or no-prep on your part
• Covers artist study, history, science, Bible, and more!
• Supplies are just paper and chalk pastels (no huge supply list)
• Kids of all ages love these lessons!

What is the You ARE an ARTIST Membership?

You ARE an ARTIST is a membership-based art program at chalkpastel.com that’s designed specifically for homeschool families. You can subscribe on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis and then log in and choose from a wide selection of guided video lessons taught by “Nana” (the instructor).

You’ll need only paper and chalk pastels—no elaborate studio, no massive supply list, no complicated projects. The lessons cover a wide range of topics: Bible, history, science, geography, nature, seasonal themes, literature, and more.

Perfect for Large and Busy Homeschool Families

I’ve already given you the highlights of why I LOVE this membership, but let me elaborate on those and give you some bonus reasons why it’s among the best out there.

– Low Prep for Busy Moms

Homeschool moms have a lot on their plate (helloooooo). I love that all we need to do to make art happen each week is pick a lesson, grab the paper and chalk pastels, and go! In a busy home where you’re already managing multiple ages (and lunch, and laundry), this is a huge win.

– Family-Style for All Ages

My kids range from third to twelfth grade, and I often have younger kids in tow. (Being a Godmother is awesome.) They can all join in and participate at their own level, enjoying a beautiful activity together.

Incorporate with Other Subjects

I was first attracted to the You ARE an ARTIST Membership because of the Bible-based lessons, which are wonderful and supplement our Bible studies well. Then I was blown away by all the amazing topics that were covered!

You’ll find maps, famous landmarks, holidays, literature, and more. The membership helps me to dig deeper into topics with my children rather than just tacking art on as an “extra.” There’s plenty for them to explore in the membership, too.

No Overwhelm Necessary

There are a LOT of lessons and topics in the membership. I was overwhelmed at first, but then I discovered the Art lesson Calendar in the dashboard of the Membership. The Calendar curates a set of art lessons each month that perfect for that time of year, with extra lessons added for interest. Using the Calendar and then pulling lessons relating to whatever we’re studying elsewhere has been a perfect solution for us.

Nana is My Favorite

The instructor, “Nana,” is friendly, warm and a favorite in our household now. Plus, if I post our finished creations on social media and tag them, my kids get a personal note of encouragement and praise from Nana. Such a sweet addition to the experience!

Some Things to Consider

• Chalk pastel can be messy. They have a great intro to using chalk pastels lesson that is helpful. You might also want to get a wipe-down table cloth or some cheap plastic ones. Also, I don’t recommend letting them paint their faces with the chalk pastels. (You would never do that, you say? Because… common sense? Well I did. Lol! They painted warrior lines of their faces and I just watched the chaos ensue. I admit, it was fun, but too messy for me, so we discussed that chalk pastels are for paper, not faces.)
  
• If you want a different medium or more advanced lessons, you might have to add something to this membership. The You ARE an ARTIST Membership is almost exclusively chalk pastels, although there’s a set of acrylic backyard bird lessons in there. But my kids have been pretty happy with the chalk pastel lessons so I don’t see that as an issue. For advanced teens or those wanting to go further, I’d check out their Fine Arts membership.
  
• Value for the cost. You’ll want to compare prices for the different options (monthly vs. annual) and determine if it will work for your family. For ours, with all the kids and the incredible enjoyment and ease-of-use, I’d say it’s high value. If you’re on the fence, check out their free “getting started” lesson and try it with the kids!

Ways to Squeeze Art Lessons In. 🙂

If you want more art and beauty in your homeschool but you don’t have a lot of bandwidth for anything complicated, this membership is perfect. Here are some ideas for making more time for art:

• Morning time: After your group reading or Bible time, pick a 10-15 minute chalk pastel lesson that ties into your the Bible lesson, a holiday theme, or something you’ve recently covered in another school subject. It’s a wonderful way to slow down and do something meaningful together before the rest of the day starts!
• Sibling together time: Pair older kids together or pair a younger sibling with an older one for special art project time. It’s a memorable way to build bonds in your family and they will enjoy picking out lessons!
• Independent art time: Some of my huge art-lovers enjoy pulling out the chalk pastels and paper on-the-fly for a spontaneous art time on their own. Since it’s so low prep and easy for them to find something interesting to do in the membership, I consider that a win.
• When mom is busy: There are days where I feel stretched by my schedule or didn’t get a good night’s sleep. The membership is a good go-to for quick lessons I can feel good about without too much involvement on my part.

The Bottom Line on the You ARE an ARTIST Membership from ChalkPastels.com

In all, I’d say that the You ARE an ARTiST Membership is a very strong choice for homeschool families who want meaningful art without the overwhelm. It’s especially great for families with a wide age range to teach, and it doesn’t add more to my busy mama workload.

Learn more about the You ARE an ARTiST Membership and get started with easy homeschool art lessons today!

~ Tauna