Kathy Barbro, Art Teacher

Looking for some fun drawing projects to do with your students?
That’s great! And as you probably already know, there are more than a few resources to choose from these days.

Aside from printed books, there are a ton of drawing websites with sketches and videos and more that ALL say they can teach you how to draw everything from cats and dogs to even, um … broccoli. (No kidding! It’s out there, and I may try it one day when I’m TOTALLY out of ideas.)

Some of those online collections are large, some are small, and some look like they were designed by committee, given the random styles and subject matter. The point is there’s a LOT to sort through, and lots of sites that just throw up stuff to see what sticks.

So would you like to know why I think my collection of tutorials are the ones you should be using? And why I think mine will actually teach your students how to draw with a logical approach, and build their confidence so they want to draw more? Here are a few reasons why:

My drawing projects originated with real kids, in a real classroom, with hours of real practice.
Try hundreds of ideas with hundreds of elementary students for about ten years and you can’t help but get a real sense of what works and what doesn’t. And when you learn that it IS totally possible to have happy proud results across most of the room, you find a way to make more of that. And likewise, when a majority of students get frustrated with a certain project, it was probably above their abilities and you either steer away or find a way to simplify it.

Every drawing tutorial follows a consistent step-by-step format.
By breaking each project down into nine easy steps, students can see how each project starts, and then makes a logical progression to the end. Much as in life, following directions one step at a time is skill that will ALWAYS help, whether it’s solving a math problem, building a Lego set, following a recipe, or even assembling anything from IKEA. (Wink, wink.)

Encourage a love of drawing in elementary school and you may make a connection for life.
One study about drawing (Gardner, 1980) found that many children will stop at age nine or ten because they can’t put things down on paper the way they want. And another (Winner, 1986) found that if young children judge themselves to be good at drawing, they are likely to continue and want to learn more. (Not sure why it took a study to figure that out, but oh well.) Simply stated, if you help students take the mystery out of drawing, and instill the idea that it’s a skill they can always improve, you open a lifetime of learning for them.

For a quick overview of my drawing tutorials, which grows by the day, please see my How to Draw Gallery. Thanks for stopping by!

— Kathy, Owner of ArtProjectsforKids.org

Email: kathy@artprojectsforkids.org

Facebook: Art Projects for Kids

Instagram:  Art Projects for Kids

Art Projects for Kids.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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“Sharpie Art Workshop for Kids”, my published book that can be found Amazon.

67 Responses

  1. Kathleen Barbro
    |

    Hi Melanie, please check your email to see if you got my email with your file attached. Thanks!

  2. Kathleen Barbro
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    Hi Mary, I’m trying follow up on comments here to see if anyone was left hanging. Can you email me at kathy@artprojectsforkids if you still need help? Thanks!

  3. Kathleen Barbro
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    Hi Victoria,
    I think that may be an older version that I can dig up and email you. Can you contact me at kathy@artprojectsforkids.org? I can reply with it attached. Thanks!

  4. Kathleen Barbro
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    Hi Ruth, so sorry for the wait. I’m fine with you sharing my tutorials in exchange for a credit to where they come from. Hope this isn’t too late. 🙂

  5. Kathleen Barbro
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    Hi Melanie,
    I’m really sorry, but as I wrote above I wasn’t getting alerts about messages here. I’m going to email you to see if I can help.

  6. Kathleen Barbro
    |

    Hi, sorry for the wait, I keep forgetting to check for messages here and for some reason I’m not getting alerts.

    Can you email me at kathy@artprojectsforkids.org? I have some other options to suggest.

  7. amorley
    |

    Hi Kathy
    I live in Australia and I’m hoping to purchase a mural from your site.
    Unfortunately the area where you add the address won’t recognise my postcode or international phone number.
    Is there a way around this.
    Alison Morley

  8. melanieadean
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    I am really starting to think that there is no one out there reading the comments on this blog, which is confusing because Kathy keeps posting more tutorials! What is going on here? I’ve been waiting patiently for months to receive a response about an order I paid for back in March but never received. So disappointing. 🙁

  9. ruth.watkins-3634
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    Are the “how to” drawing guides free to use at a summer art camp?
    Thanks!
    Ruth W

  10. victoria.neal
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    Hi Kathy,
    Is there still access to the elements of art journal that goes through the initial elements where you discuss line and then the cat face is drawn with different kinds of line? I can’t find it and am willing to purchase it. I did not locate it in your elements of art package that I recently purchased. Thank you for your time.
    Victoria

  11. Kathleen Barbro
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    Hi Mary,

    So sorry for the delay, I didn’t catch your comment until just now. I did just look in your account and the How to Draw book shows up there. And the Self Portraits ebook. Can you email me at kathy(at)artprojectsforkids.org if you still need help? BTW, the mega pack IS designed for the 6×9 format, but I may be remaking that larger soon.

  12. mary-3660
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    Hi Kathy: I purchased the How to Draw eBook but it’s not showing on this account. I’m worried I somehow have more than one account but I cannot locate another account.

    I also want the mega package so I can get the elements of art and design lessons. Before I make the purchase, I wanted to check whether they include larger size drawings like 8 x 10? I am a children’s art teacher and could really use larger sizes of the drawings. Is this possible? thanks so much! Mary

  13. marciafc81
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    Hello I just purchase the book How to draw, But i dont see how to download it.
    thank you

  14. marciafc81
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    Hello, I just purchase the How to draw and my paypal email confirmation came back but I cant download anything.
    thank ypu

  15. gloabramovitz
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    I sent an email, but have not gotten a response. The other day I paid $15 through PayPal for the ebook on how to draw famous places. When the confirmation page came up there was not a link to download it. How can I obtain the ebook now? For all of the public who are seeing this message: I love this site and this is the first time I have ever had an issue.

  16. cfelton
    |

    Just wanted to say thank you for your wonderful murals. I do one each year with my second-graders. This spring, I sent a page to each student and they are emailing me photos of their colored panel to make an online mural. It’s been a real morale booster for me and the kids. – Christine

  17. jennifer.graham
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    I wanted to buy but after reading these comments, I am worried that I won’t get the product. I love the drawing ideas and projects.

  18. melanieadean
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    I’ve sent several emails and have already posted here once. Is anyone out there? I keep getting emails with awesome art projects to do with the kids, but I never received a response about the order I paid for but didn’t receive. Thanks for any help.

  19. jennifer.graham
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    Hi Kathy,
    I have a question about the different collections. How are the combination Lesson collections different from the single-subject ones?
    Thank you,
    Jennifer Graham

  20. mimour0305
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    Where do I find the coupon code? I would like to buy “one of each” LOLOL seriously……and a coupon code would be wonderful?!!!!

  21. melanieadean
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    Several days ago I paid for the Earth Day Mural but I never received the download, and it isn’t listed in my account. I have sent two emails but no response. Can I please have my money back, as Earth Day is now passed? Many thanks, Melanie

  22. amapola martinez
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    Hi Kathy,
    It all went to my spam folder! Thank you so much for your help!

  23. amapola martinez
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    Hello Katy,
    I am a little worried. I bought one of your ebooks last week hoping that I would be able to download it right away. I didn´t create an account at that time and I haven´t been able to download the material. I thouhgt I would recive it in my mail, but I did´t. I have sent 2 emails but have not gotten a response. I showed you the charge to my card in one of the emails. Is there anything else I could do? Thank you so much for your amazing work!
    Ama

  24. Lilia Ortiz
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    I just got the link.
    Thank you!

  25. Lilia Ortiz
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    I just purchased a pdf collaborative mural but I can’t download it. How do I get it?

  26. Kathleen Barbro
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    Hi! I was just thinking of sharing that as a freebie, but didn’t get to it yet. If you email me at kathy(at)artprojectsforkids.org, I’ll send it to you. -Kathy

  27. jaqi
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    Hello, I’ve seen a how to draw/painting project labeled ” watering can flowers ” but i cant find the instructions on your site . Is it in one of the bundles for purchase if so which one ? Id love to do this project with my 1st graders . I was having a hard time attaching the pitcher to it . thank you

  28. Kathleen Barbro
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    Hi, I just replied with the mural attached. Let me know if you did not get it. -Kathy

  29. jenniferg70
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    Hi, I just purchased a mural and did not create an account beforehand. Can you let me know how to access the pdf?
    Thanks

  30. Kathleen Barbro
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    Hi Karen, I just saw your message here, but I did already reply yesterday with your file attached. Please let me know if you did not receive that. -Kathy

  31. karenlandon3
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    bought the obama mural twice with credit card. only need one mural. i was unable to download so assumed order did not go thru and tried again. how can i get this fixed?

  32. Kathleen Barbro
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    Hi Aisling, I just replied to your email with your file attached. -Kathy

  33. Kathleen Barbro
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    Hi, I’ll look into that right now.

  34. Aisling Cormican
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    Hi,
    I bought the Nelson Mandela collaborative art and got an email to say the transaction had gone through from PayPal but I can’t download it as it days payment is pending on my art projects account.

  35. Kathleen Barbro
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    Hi, I just saw your comment. I’ll reply to your purchase email with the file attached. -Kathy

  36. ameliebrunet2
    |

    Hello, I just purchased a mural (Klimt) and my order has been confirmed from Pay Pal, but when I log in my page there is no download available. Thanks

  37. Kathleen Barbro
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    Hi Stefan, I resent your file yesterday, did you receive it? – Kathy

  38. zammit.stefan
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    Hi, I just purchased your Delaunauy mural. Have been able to download the file, but it is printing all sections as a full black page and not what is shown. Tried both pdfs (15 page and 24 page) and getting the same result for both.

  39. Kathleen Barbro
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    Hi Marla, I’ll look into that right now, sometimes the files end up in Spam folders. You can always email me at kathy(at)artprojectsforkids.org for faster help.

  40. marlawsmith74
    |

    I ordered ebook have not received yet

  41. Kathleen Barbro
    |

    I just sent you a new file, look for an email. – Kathy

  42. justmelz1
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    I aM UNABLE TO PRINT THE MLK MURAL i PURCHASED . CAN YOU PLEASE HELP? I SENT YOU AN EMAIL AS WELL. justmelz1@yahoo.com

  43. asnider
    |

    Hi, I made an order today and it is not showing up in my account. I noticed it is pending through my bank account already so I know that part worked.

  44. kfkislia
    |

    I ordered this yesterday afternoon but never received my link. Could you please email me with it?

  45. Kathleen Barbro
    |

    For some reason, your address is giving an error message. Do you have another? You can reach me at kathy(at)artprojectsforkids.org

  46. Kathleen Barbro
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    Hi, the PDF file sometimes ends up in spam folders, but I am happy to email it too.

  47. zrivas
    |

    Hello, I just purchased also the missions project and created account. I have not received link. Can you let me know how to link accounts thanks.

  48. Kathleen Barbro
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    Hi, please just email me at kathy(at)artprojectsforkids.org and I can send files to you. I wish I could move things in accounts, but unfortunately cannot.

  49. stupper
    |

    Our district changed our email addresses. How do I transfer the purchases I have previously made to my new address?

  50. analampoon
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    Ooops , just checked my email, its there, thanks so much

  51. analampoon
    |

    Hi, i have emailed you and still haven’t heard back, I would like to be able to get my download and start with my children. Many thanks

  52. analampoon
    |

    Hi, I’d made a purchase and thought I created an account, how do I download my items now? thanks

  53. Kathleen Barbro
    |

    Hi, please email me as sometimes the links have been updated. kbarbro(at)pacbell.net. I’m happy to send you anything that you are having trouble with.

  54. mydy0305
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    I purchased the tropical mural and a few others and it won’t let me download them. I thought that the purchase never expired.

  55. Kathleen Barbro
    |

    Hi, sometimes the emails end up in spam. Please email me at kathy(a)artprojectsforkids.com if you still need help. I can reply with the files attached.

  56. Kathleen Barbro
    |

    Hi, can you email me at kathy(at)artprojectsforkids.com? I can reply with the file attached.

  57. Kathleen Barbro
    |

    Hi, just checking, did you get your ebook? I can help faster if you email me.

  58. tpetrin
    |

    I too made the mistake of purchasing the product before creating an account. How can I get the link to the email download?

  59. cdmosko
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    Hola, soy de Argentina profesora de arte , hermosa la página, como consigo los libros y saber el precio. Gracias!! saludos.

  60. mrspeters
    |

    I have just purchased Elements of Art Ebook but can’t find the link to download
    can you please help
    Thanks, Michelle (purchased it before I actually registered on the website so not sure if that makes a difference)

  61. Kathleen Barbro
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    Sorry, I wish there was. I’m always available though for email resends.

  62. kmills299
    |

    Hi Kathleen, I created my account after I purchased a product. Is there a way to link my account to my purchase?

    Karen

  63. Kathleen Barbro
    |

    I tried to email to your address used here (burpengary@helpinhandsnetwork.com.au) and it didn’t go through. Can you email me at kathybarbro(at)gmail.com so I can reply with it?

  64. Lina Proietto
    |

    i have just purchased Landscape Ebook but cant find the link to download
    can you please help
    thanks

  65. ceceg209
    |

    Hi, I just purchased your Passport Project…but I don’t see the link to download it.

  66. Kathleen Barbro
    |

    Hi Lisa,

    Thank you so much for your nice comment, and thoughtful request. I’d really love to help you out (and would enjoy doing so!) but I have long “To Do” list already that will probably take me through the end of the year. I’d be happy to put a full size tree on my list after that as it sounds like something that more teachers might be interested in. I’m not sure if that helps you, but I did want to get back to you before too much time has passed. Best wishes, Kathy

  67. lkoudijs
    |

    Dear Ms. Barbro,
    First, thank you so much for sharing your awesome ideas! I am a senior kindergarten teacher and find your ideas inspiring!
    At our school, we have “school families” which are students SK-Grade 8 in groups of 12-14 students for special activities. I think doing a large mural would be fantastic. Your four season trees look like they could work for our 200+ students as an all school “school family” project.

    Here’s my question… after I explain my idea. I have a vision of the tree murals being combined into two trees (or possibly one tree). The tree pattern could be reversed or mirror image to make a right and a left side with the trunk being overlapped. I might be able to figure that idea out, but perhaps it would be a simpler task for you to do? I was just wondering if you would consider this idea?

    My further idea is to have an additional mural space for the top of the tree perhaps with some sky which would then enlarge the mural size. This could then become one large tree for each season or one large tree showing all four seasons. This could then be promoted to larger groups or be used as a growing idea where different parts are added at different times. Let me know what you think of my idea and if you would consider expanding your tree.

    It is the 50th anniversary of our school this year and I think this would be an amazing idea to do as a school community. Thank you for sharing so much of your talent, especially for those of us who love art, but are not trained and appreciate the inspiration and talent shared!

    Please let me know what you think of this idea. Perhaps this would open up a new avenue for you to share your talents with a larger group. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

    Appreciatively,
    Lisa Koudijs

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