Waldorf Art at Home: Getting Your Supplies in Order
Creating a positive environment for your at-home art class requires a little bit of thought, planning, and intention.
A starting point? Give yourself a solid foundation.
This might look like finding a comfortable and large enough workspace, finding the right time of day that works best for your children and schedule…etc.
Here’s another one: getting your supplies in order!
Taking a little time to prepare your art supplies will make a big, positive impact!
Making art classes successful requires some prep, and in a way, the set-up, materials, and clean-up matter more than the lesson itself. If all of these things are handled, then you (and the students!) can focus, and truly enjoy and learn from the lesson at hand.
Looking at supply lists (especially for Waldorf art) can make your head spin a bit; it can feel like a lot of stuff, and expensive stuff at that.
How can you be sure you’ll actually use what you buy? Are there other alternative brands that will give you the same result? How do you store everything to keep it in good shape for the next class?
These questions are why we created our Waldorf Art for Beginners course!
In it, we give you the full walk-through of supplies you’ll need for Waldorf art. The kind of supplies you’ll actually want to use, and which brands provide quality in terms of experience and result. We share what we’ve learned from our many, many years of experience both in the classroom as well as homeschooling plus lessons learned from a lot of trial and error!
At this point, you may be asking yourself, “Does the specific kind of art supply really matter? Aren’t they all basically the same?”
We’re here to tell you that they definitely are NOT, and often, spending a bit more at the beginning will save you frustration and needing to spend more down the road.
Art class should feel enjoyable, fun, and like your time was used wisely to create and grow. We highly recommend controlling the variables that you can, and having the best supplies at hand will give you the best odds of results your artists are happy with.
A prepared, organized workspace leaves room for a peaceful, creative art class.
For example, let’s talk about painting paper, an item that seems fairly inconsequential in the grand scheme of painting, but actually really matters a LOT.
For watercolor painting, the paper needs to be thick enough to withstand the water, the friction of the brush, and the layers of paint. With that in place, the child can paint to their heart’s content without noticing the paper. Instead they’re noticing the experience, the color, and forming those skills and connections we strive for as educators!
But, without the right kind of paper, the lesson and experience becomes secondary. Too-thin paper will pill, rip easily, and not hold the pigment in a strong way. It is very frustrating for the child, as they aren’t able to create freely.
All this is to say: get the best supplies you can.
Not necessarily the most expensive, not the most “Waldorf”, but the items that will make the lesson, creativity, and experience central to the art class. You won’t regret it, we promise!
Our Waldorf Art for Beginners course is open for enrollment year-round, and provides a full, comprehensive walk-through of all things Waldorf art supplies: crayons, watercolor paints (and paper!), colored pencil, and more. PLUS instructor support, links to our favorite vendors, and forever access if ever you need to reference the course again for helpful reminders.
About the Authors
Robyn Beaufoy is Waldorfish’s CEO, and a course instructor for Waldorf Art for Beginners, Weekly Art Foundations, and Simple Season. You’ll find her intuitive touches and influences throughout everything Waldorfish offers! Robyn has been in the world of education for over 25 years, with an MA in Education and a certification in Waldorf teaching - she also homeschooled both of her children. In 2012 Robyn co-founded Waldorfish.com, creating it with the vision of making Waldorf inspired-art and pedagogy more accessible, joyful, and doable to homeschoolers all over the world.
Caitlin Amajor is Waldorfish’s course instructor for Geometry grades 5 & 6, and Botany, as well as our Administrative Assistant. From a young age, Caitlin has been immersed in Waldorf education, attending a Waldorf school from K-8. After receiving a BA in History, Caitlin gained her certification in Waldorf teaching, and spent seven years as a Waldorf class teacher in the upper grades. With a special fondness for watercolor painting and geometry, Caitlin loves bringing Waldorf education to her students all over the world, and seeing their own individuality and style bloom from the curriculum!
