Trailblazing Transit American Art for History

Over the years, art has become a significant tool in our home – not only as a means of learning to appreciate and replicate beautiful things, but also to encourage the art of remembering. When we connect our history, our geography, or our read-alouds to drawing and art projects, we recall details for much longer. In fact, it has become so effective that we’ve incorporated art projects into our studies of missionaries, cultures, and history to aid in comprehension and to tap into the creative “right side of the brain” to provide a visual memory hook for long-term retention.

We’ve used a variety of resources for learning art and drawing skills, such as:

And while these are all excellent resources with step-by-step drawing/art instructions, there’s something better. Although I can follow directions and lead my children through following directions, I haven’t spent years under the instruction of an art tutor honing art and drawing skills in myself. This is where a master artist or tutor can provide better instruction and take my children farther than I can take them.

Embracing a home-centered education approach doesn’t mean I’m teaching every single subject to my children. As a homeschool mom, I spend quite a bit of time researching and seeking out resources and guidance from others as I direct my children’s education. One of the greatest joys of homeschooling is directing their education as I learn alongside them. I don’t need to know everything as long as I’m willing to learn with them. My favorite resource for learning art techniques and mediums alongside my children is Yellow Spot: Sun, and we’re so excited about the newest art course, Trailblazing Transit!

Trailblazing Transit American History-Themed Art Course

Trailblazing Transit is an online art course taught by professional art teacher and homeschool mom Marrissa Raimonde. In this tutorial, students learn to draw and paint modes of transportation used over the course of U.S. history chronologically, from the time of the Native Americans up to U.S. space missions of the 20th century.

The step-by-step drawing and painting lessons demonstrate how to construct beautiful representations of…

A Native American Canoe
Lewis and Clark’s Keelboat
A Pioneer Wagon
A Steam Locomotive
Ford’s Model T
A Space Shuttle

…using watercolor pencils, watercolor paints, acrylic/tempera paint, and chalk pastels. You can download this chart which indicates when each project aligns with the history readings in Mission: Lasting Liberty.

Students first learn to draw the mode of transportation through Marrissa’s step-by-step video instructions…

…and then are introduced to a specific medium and how to best use that medium to create a finished masterpiece.

This course also comes with a suggested book list to help enhance your art study and a downloadable PDF art appreciation packet which provides questions for your family to examine and discuss corresponding artwork and photography from American history for each art lesson.

Although Trailblazing Transit may be used independently, this course provides detailed instructions that correspond to the art projects assigned in each unit of our one-year American history curriculum, Mission: Lasting Liberty. (Click on each link below to see what the final masterpieces looked like for our family!)

Unit 1 Week 4: Native American Canoe
Unit 2 Week 5: Lewis and Clark’s Keelboat
Unit 3 Week 5: Pioneer’s Wagon
Unit 4 Week 6: Steam Locomotive
Unit 5 Week 6: Ford’s Model T
Unit 6 Week 6: Space Shuttle

You may also want to check out some of the other fantastic art tutorials which effectively teach (and inspire!) art appreciation, drawing skills, and art techniques in a one-room schoolhouse atmosphere. Yellow Spot: Sun courses are well laid out, and the printables and finished art projects are simply stunning. Art courses currently available include:

Drawing Americana. A six week drawing course that introduces the student to a different American artist each week and teaches drawing skills with symbols of America. (Recommended grades: K-12.) Also available as a classroom or co-op license.
Art Through the Eyes of the American Woman. A four-week art course that introduces the student to American artists Kay Sage, Nancy Graves, Mary Blair and Laurel Burch. (Recommended grades: K-8.)
Color Theory with the Impressionists. A four-week painting and drawing course that introduces the student to famous artists Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Georges Seurat, and Vincent Van Gogh. (Recommended grades: K-8.)
Architects of the Ancient World. 24 step-by-step drawing and painting lessons that introduce the student to the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. (Recommended grades: K-12.) Also available as a classroom or co-op license.
Kingly Kingdoms. 24 step-by-step drawing and painting lessons inspired by the Medieval Period. (Recommended grades: K-12.) Also available as a classroom or co-op license.