Cassidy - Age 9

About the Monart Drawing Method
Monart is more than a method that teaches people how to draw. Leading educators recognize Monart as a way students can use several learning modalities by teaching them how to focus and concentrate, make decisions, solve problems, plan sequence, and develop hand-eye coordination.

Just as we learn the ABC's so that we can read, and musical notes and scales so that we can play an instrument, Monart students learn to perceive what they want to draw in terms of five basic elements of shape, and to develop the skills they need to translate that information onto paper.

Since 1979, Monart has been taught around the world. The Monart method has achieved astounding results with children and adults, including those with learning difficulties. Public school teachers who receive in-service training and use Monart in their classrooms report that their students' reading and math levels rise, and their problem-solving skills and concentration increase dramatically.

Each week the lesson plan at Monart Drawing School is based on a particular theme, giving enough structure to ensure success, and enough freedom for independent creativity. In a non-competitive, peaceful environment students learn that there is no right or wrong way to draw. The curriculum is balanced both in subject matter and media.
 

All classes at the Monart Drawing Schools are based on the methods described in the best-selling books, Drawing with Children and Drawing for Older Children & Teens by Mona Brookes, founder of the Monart Institute. 

            

Visit Monart's Website: http://www.monart.com for more information and locations of other Monart Schools around the world, or call the Monart Institute at 310-337-0107.

Monart Beliefs

The Monart Drawing Method is able to help build and support a healthy, positive sense of self-esteem in students through its non-competitive, non-judgmental and educational environment. All of the students become aware of several key thoughts very early in their artistic careers, which helps to eliminate negative and worrisome feelings about their drawing skills. Some of these key thoughts are:

• Drawing is a teachable skill at which everyone can be successful. The Monart Drawing Method works from an academic viewpoint, showing students how to take things apart and put them back together. Whether they like their drawings or not, students have now acquired the skills and knowledge of how to draw and can practice drawing as much as they want.
• You don't have to wait to grow up to be an artist. Many adult artists have attempted to capture a childlike essence or energy in their art. They are inspired by the children's free use of color, shape, symbols, etc. This simple truth speaks to the importance and validity of children's artwork.
• It's OK if you don't like your artwork. Many professional artists do not like everything they create and will even throw artwork away. Monart students are encouraged and taught how to figure out what they do and do not like about their drawings, so they can make some changes the next time they draw. This process teaches students to be realistic in achieving their skills and goals.
• There are no mistakes. Each attempt in drawing is a stepping-stone to achieving a final result. Each time an undesirable line is made, the artist is given more information about his/her drawing. It doesn't necessarily mean the artwork is doomed and/or ruined. Now that they know what they don't want, they are encouraged to make a different line to figure out what they do want. This process can often invoke a new creative approach or inspiration that otherwise may not have been discovered if the artwork was simply crumpled and thrown away.
• There isn't a better or best. Each piece is simply different. Rembrandt and Van Gogh are two famous artists with very different styles. One artist is not better than the other. Although a personal opinion might favor one artist over the other, it doesn't make one a good artist and the other bad. They are simply two different artists. The Monart Drawing School teaches its students to respect the artwork of fellow artists/students and how to learn to appreciate the similarities and differences in their work.
• It is OK to be inspired by another artist and attempt to copy their work. It is a common practice in the realms of higher education for artists to study the line drawings of Durer by drawing his drawings, or to study the paint strokes, or color palette of another artist by attempting to duplicate their works. This process is considered a valid and important learning tool. Creating an original piece of artwork is a wonderful goal to have, but difficult to do if one doesn't have enough information about how to do it or the skills to execute the knowledge. At the Monart Drawing School, everyone is given enough structure to be successful and enough freedom to be creative