5 Books About Fostering Kids' Love for Art
+ Interviewing Beth Spencer of Introvert Drawing Club on keeping kids' artistic creativity alive
I always thrill at the sight of my kid making art. Maybe it’s the 20 minutes of peace I get or just seeing her deeply absorbed in the activity, her teeth biting her lower lip in concentration. Growing up, I never thought of myself as an artist. I enjoyed doodling and drawing pictures but my little brother was the artist in the family. He thought he’d grow up and become one. But somewhere along the way, that notion was plucked from his head like an unwanted weed. It got me wondering what happened to the little artists we all used to be. Where along the way do they get lost?
To help me figure that out, I’m so excited to have
share her thoughts on how we can foster our kids’ love for art when they’re young and help it flourish especially as they get older (and need it the most!).Beth is an illustrator who helps artists come out of their shells through her newsletter and community, Introvert Drawing Club. She hosts live sessions and shares her creative process with her audience. Beth is currently working on her author-illustrator debut, which will be published in 2025, and I, for one, cannot wait!
At the bottom of the newsletter, you’ll find a list of some of my favorite books and some additional resources to encourage your kids’ inner artists and remind them why their creativity and desire to put art out into the world is so vital.
Most kids grow up drawing, sketching, painting, etc. Yet, somewhere along the way, that habit falls away. Why do you think that is?
If you give a kid markers, paints, and crayons, they’ll just… draw! In ways that are fun for them! They’re artists by nature. As they grow, society can lead them to believe that precision equals “good.” This shifts focus away from having fun and piles on the pressure. That can lead young artists to pack up their art materials and choose other activities over drawing.
My husband, Eric, chose music over visual art after self-imposed pressure made drawing less enjoyable. “It didn’t come immediately and easily to me. I wanted to draw comic book style,” he said. “I tried and I couldn’t. I wanted to play Smells Like Teen Spirit. I tried, and I could.”
So many kids love to draw and make art. How do we encourage and foster that creativity? What tips do you have for parents and caregivers?
Encourage play and experimentation. Children are natural artists! To offset society’s expectations, we can remind young artists that any time spent drawing is more valuable than what we create. Making something we don’t like is just as important as creating a masterpiece. This applies to adult artists, too!
Make messes! Let them make messes on the page without giving instructions. This is how we learn how materials play together, mix colors, and get inspired!
When my 4-year-old nephew, Atticus, paints, he focuses on using the materials in ways that make him happy. He instinctively picks up brush pens filled with watercolor with both hands to make marks on the page. In our last session, he painted his hand and smooshed it right onto the paper to mix a rainbow of beautiful textures. It’s so inspiring!
Listen & support. If the young artist in your life expresses interest in a material, consider it as a gift you could give them.
I always wanted to play with “real” paint growing up, instead of the Crayola watercolor set I had. Well, I quickly lost interest in it and started writing stories in a notebook. Now I make huge messes with acrylic paint and write stories in a notebook for a living! All artists find their way and having a loving adult to support and encourage their practice makes the journey a lot less bumpy. Great job, grownup!
Notice negative self-talk. This is a big one. If you hear a young artist say “I can’t _____,” just add the word YET to the end of the statement. Remind them how proud you are that they tried that thing and ask if they want to do something else for a while.
Today’s kids are involved in so many activities. How can kids protect their creative energy when they’re so busy?
Keep art materials accessible. This means art supplies EVERYWHERE. I have markers, crayons, and tiny sketchbooks on every end table and inside every drawer of my home. Reach for those instead of a phone or a tablet.
Do it together. Take a walk with your sketchbooks and pay attention to shapes and colors, asking your young artist which ones they might like to see in their sketchbooks. Set an intention to follow your curiosity together. There are no wrong shapes, marks, or colors!
Set aside small chunks of time for it. Drawing for 5 - 10 minutes to practice having fun is better than spending 3 hours on a single masterpiece. This applies to grownup artists as well!
In your experience, what are the positive aspects of nurturing an interest in art? Are there any negatives?
Mindfulness - A personal art practice helps you stay present and connected to your environment.
Less screen time - Creating art gives us a breather from all the digital noise that constantly surrounds us.
Connection - Let them be the teacher and draw together. Following your curiosity is a brilliant way to lead by example, instead of trying to force out a perfect drawing!
The only negative challenges of creative practice come during adulthood, when there’s pressure to monetize creativity.
For kids who have perfectionist tendencies or are sensitive to how their artwork will be perceived, what strategies can help keep them encouraged?
Praise them for showing up to practice. That’s the hardest part! Sometimes I begin drawing sessions by having artists write three kind things about themselves. If they can’t think of any, then I tell them to write “I SHOWED UP.” That’s enough!
Be curious. Take an interest in what THEY like about their art and which parts were most fun for them. That’s what’s important.
Don’t take it so seriously. Laughter is a powerful tool for learning to love your bad drawings.
Big, big thanks to Beth for sharing her experience and wisdom! Below, you’ll find a list of some of my favorite children’s books on why art is so important and necessary for our souls.
1. Art & Max
Written and Illustrated by David Wiesner
Recommended Ages: 3-6 years old
A hilarious story between a wise, experienced, and soon-to-be disgruntled teacher and the budding, overeager artist who can’t wait to jump right in. David Wiesner is a master of children’s storytelling and artwork (he’s the genius behind Sector 7) and this book shines with his skill. The exuberant Max will be all too familiar to very young artists. The littlest amongst us just want their art supplies and then for us to get out of the way so they can start creating, one of the few areas in which they have complete control. Such is the story of Art and Max. Arthur is an experienced artist, happily painting a portrait of his friends when Max insists he can paint too. Art reluctantly hands him a canvas and so begins a series of funny hijinks. On the face of it, it’s a story about Max getting Art into all sorts of trouble. But the more you look, the more you see it’s a story about how undefinable art and creativity are and how they can take so many different beautiful forms.
Buy now*
2. Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed A Neighborhood
Written by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell and Illustrated by Rafael López
Recommended Ages: 4-7 years old
The color, art, and sheer joy of this book’s illustrations are a buffet for hungry eyes. And it should be since, at its heart, that’s the premise of this story. Mira knows the power of art. It fills her heart and home with happiness and she passes on this joy by sharing her artwork with the people she passes in the street against the backdrop of a dark, grey, urban landscape. When she comes across the opportunity to bring her city to life through art, Mira seizes it and never looks back. You see the drab pages transformed, seeping with bright, saturated color and dripping with jubilation. This is based on the true story of East Village in downtown San Diego. The illustrator, Rafael López, and his wife Candice took on the effort of transforming that part of San Diego into what is now considered an Urban Art Trail. Murals dot the side of buildings and color adorns benches and it is ultimately a living tribute to what art does to our hearts and communities: helps them bloom.
Buy now*
3. Time to Make Art
Written and Illustrated by Jeff Mack
Recommended Ages: 4-8 years old
Every page of this book had me grinning. I’m no Art History major but even I recognized some of the great artists that make an appearance in this picture book. A young girl is going to make art but before she begins she has questions. Lots of questions. Questions about what makes art good, what makes it valid, etc. The very people who answer these questions are world-famous artists themselves. This book, with its bright colorful renditions of the world's most famous art and the cutest, most inquisitive artist, is the perfect way to help your artist get out of their head and just connect with the joy of making art. At the end of the book are quick blurbs of all the famous artists featured throughout the book. One of the things I LOVED about it is that it features a diverse set of artists from around the world.
Buy now*
4. The Book of Mistakes
Written and Illustrated by Corinna Luyken
Recommended Ages: 5-9 years old
This is the type of story that stays with you. For the art lesson it teaches today and the life lesson it imparts for tomorrow. We’ve all been there: we have grand visions for what we want to accomplish and then something, somewhere, goes awry. A young artist is busy sketching away when the first mistake happens. And so begins a series of mistakes and creative changes to overcome them. Ultimately teaching us the valuable lesson that a mistake, instead of shutting the door, actually opens the door to even more creativity. With each page, we see sketches and color blossom until the “mistakes” are indecipherable and you have a sight to behold before your very eyes. This is an exquisite reminder for every single person be they child or adult that your mistakes are not insurmountable; in fact, they’re stepping stones to a bigger picture.
Buy now*
5. Niko Draws A Feeling
Written by Bob Raczka and Illustrated by Simone Shin
Recommended Ages: 5-9 years old
Wherever Niko looks, he sees inspiration so he whips out his sketchbook and colored pencils and sketches away. But the people around him don’t understand Niko’s art. They don’t realize that Niko draws the essence of things; the way they feel; the filaments of their soul. So when a kid is expecting to see an ice cream truck, Niko has to remind them his drawing isn’t about the truck but its happy tune. Even though no one seems to “get” his work, not drawing simply isn’t an option. When he feels lonely, Niko simply draws the feeling. Then he meets a new girl, Iris, who has just moved to his neighborhood. When Iris sees what Niko sees in his art, a budding friendship is born. A story about both art and friendship, the heart of it is the reminder to never lose yourself along the way. That you’re right just the way you are and the people that will appreciate you are out there. Until you find those people, you just keep being you.
Buy now*
Additional Resources
This is a fantastic—and, funny—illustration of the creative genius of teenagers
We’ve all been to restaurants with kids and wondered why we thought this was a good idea. Fortunately, Beth has a lovely prompt to keep our little artists occupied
Here’s my full list of great children’s books about art and its benefits
Let’s Talk…
You were a kid once… were you into art? If you stopped being an artist, when did that happen and why?
What art activities do you do with the kids in your life?
How has art benefited you in your life?
*Thank you for using (at no additional cost to you) the affiliate links in this post! :-)
One my favorite kids' books about art (and life) is Ish by Peter Reynolds. A beautiful antidote to perfectionism.
My son is super creative, but it probably doesn’t look that way to lots of people. He’s autistic and drawing/painting has been really challenging for him. But he loves music and makes up his own songs. And he’s very into building his “cool creations,” which can include lots of household things like straws and beads, plus toys that are made for building like gears. Sometimes he lines things up. Sometimes he uses materials in unexpected ways. If I was too hung up on what creativity is “supposed” to look like, I would miss it, but it’s really inspiring!