Exploring famous art with children printables

A free arts education printable! Use these sheets to learn about famous art, in school, homeschool, or when you visit an art gallery with your children.

Exploring famous art with children

Arts education is central to a good education. Although it’s disappearing from many schools, learning about, through and with art adds depth, breadth, connection and richness to the curriculum.

People have been creating art for thousands of years and it’s central what it means to be human. Learning about famous art gives children an opportunity to learn about culture, religion, science, geography, history, philosophy, critical reasoning, and empathy.

You can use this free printable to explore a famous work of art with your children. We use it in the Family Art Club that I run, when we visit an art gallery, and when we are learning about a new artist.

The printable is a bit like a treasure hunt around a work of art. It prompts your child to look, think and respond to what they see, through writing and drawing. Print it and give it a try!

It will guide your children with prompts that include:

:: facts about the artist and their life:

:: the colours they use

:: what children can see in the artwork

:: how the art makes them feel

:: what words you might choose to describe the artwork

:: thinking of alternative titles you would give the piece

You can use the printable with these examples of famous art that show color theory.

Talking about famous paintings with children helps develop their thinking skills, language, and understanding of the world. It encourages them to look closely at art, think about why the artist has chosen to make a particular art work, and consider what the piece means.

Use our art criticism guide for children to get started, which includes a set printable art discussion cards, and see our suggestions of ten paintings to use for art criticism with children to begin with.

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