I pick up my son directly after school, and we get some play/exercise time. After that it's homework or reading/drawing time. I encourage my son to draw as often as he wants to. He has probably filled as many sketch-books as I have at this point - real sketch-books, like the ones I used in college and beyond. His drawings have evolved from primitive 'mandala'-like bicycle wheels (representing people) to complex and detailed narratives of space aliens coming to Earth to destroy all the cats and make pizza out of them. Sometimes he asks me to draw with him!
I have said many times to my own students that you learn to draw before you learn to write your own name. The focus shifts in Elementary school to writing and reading. Some students claim that they don't know how to draw at all once they reach high-school. It's really too bad that the research linking drawing to better reading and writing in school isn't publicized at every pre-school. I'll include a link to some of the best case-studies in this area - the information is very interesting.
So that's a focus that I need to improve upon as an artist. I can definitely use more time getting some old works completed, and also creating drawings. I used to be good at it once I got over the "fear" of "not being able to draw". The new schedule allows for some time here and there for practice. I am taking one or two evenings each week for much needed peace and solitude. Now the hunt is on for public places to draw. Again, I'm lucky to live amidst beauty.
Links:
Dr. Susan Rich Sheridan's Marks and Mind
Making the Drawing/Literacy Connection by Judy Potter
UMich study of the relationship of Drawing, Writing, Literacy, and Math in Kindergarten Children, Steffani, Selvester
