Why Art Is at the Heart of Waldorf Education (Even If You Don’t Feel Like an Artist)
If you’re new to Waldorf education, one of the first things you’ll probably notice is how art-full it is.
In Waldorf Education, art is everywhere!
From watercolor painting and crayon drawings to beeswax modeling and form drawing, it’s everywhere. And if you're anything like many of us, that might feel a little... intimidating. Maybe even a little frustrating. (“But I’m not an artist!” Sound familiar?)
But here’s the beautiful part: Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Waldorf education, didn’t put art into the curriculum to turn children into professional artists. He placed it there because he knew something essential - art builds the muscles needed for learning.
Let’s pause there for a second.
We tend to think of learning as something that happens in the mind. Reading, writing, memorizing facts and dates. But Steiner understood that learning is actually a full-body, full-being process. When children engage with artistic activity - whether it’s singing, painting, or sculpting - they’re not just being “creative.” They’re developing capacities that form the foundation for academic learning: concentration, perseverance, observation, fine motor skills, and a deepened connection to beauty and meaning.
In other words, art in the Waldorf curriculum isn’t extra. It is the curriculum.
Steiner often said that the arts awaken the “will” - that inner spark that allows a child to want to learn, to push through challenge, and to care about what they’re doing. He knew that when a child draws a picture of a story they’ve just heard, or moves their body through a geometric form, they’re not just decorating their lesson, they’re embodying it. That kind of learning sticks. It sinks in at a level far deeper than rote memorization ever could.
Take a deep breath, and get started!
So if you're feeling nervous about bringing art into your homeschooling rhythm, take heart: it's not about doing it perfectly. It's about showing up with curiosity and openness. It's about trusting the process - just like we hope our children will do.
You don’t have to be an expert artist. You just need to be willing to pick up the crayon, the brush, the modeling wax... and begin.
Because art isn’t just a “subject” in Waldorf education. It’s the vehicle for learning. And in the long run, it nurtures not only academic understanding, but also imagination, resilience, and joy.
And that? That’s worth a little mess on the table!
If you’d like some support creating your own weekly art rhythm, reach out and/or take a look at our Weekly Art Foundations course (open for enrollment on July 21st, 2025!)
Robyn Beaufoy is Waldorfish’s CEO, and also a course instructor for Simple Season, Waldorf Art for Beginners, and Weekly Art Foundations. 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 for some of that time. In 2012 Robyn co-founded Waldorfish.com, creating it with the vision of making Waldorf inspired-art and pedagogy more accessible, joyful, and doable for homeschoolers all over the world.
