Disclosure:  This program was provided by Home Art Studio in exchange for my honest review.

I (Mandie) was given the opportunity to try out Home Art Studio to review with my children and I am very excited to share with Motherhood on a Dime readers what an amazing art program this truly is!  For homeschooling families, this could be an excellent addition to your family’s curriculum.  Even if your family doesn’t homeschool, Home Art Studio could be the perfect activity for evenings and weekends.

For busy homeschooling mamas with little ones who need lots of one-on-one instruction, you are going to LOVE that this program creates a time where your child can work independently and you can do all the other million things that need to be done!  Home Art Studio is simply a DVD that your child follows along with to create his or her very own masterpiece.  Simply set out the supplies needed and that’s all you’ll really need to do.  Ms. Violin, the art teacher, provides very clear instructions from start to finish for your child to complete a project.  Basically, I would work on dinner while my children sat at the table with the art lesson.  I was available to assist when needed, but this program proved to be an independent learning time for my children.  There were also times where I sat at the table and made the project right alongside my boys– which was fun for me!

One of the first things to think about when considering this program is whether or not you have a good place for your child to watch the lesson on DVD and spread out art supplies.  We used our kitchen table for lessons, along with either a computer monitor or a laptop.  I recommend having a convenient and close way to pause the video at times, which is what my son liked to do, so he could take his time after each step was explained.

One of my favorite aspects of this program is how literature and art are weaved together.  Ms. Violin reads a story aloud and then the art project goes right along with the story– bringing the story to life with a hands on activity.

Home Art Studio is available for kindergarten through 5th grade.  My son, Kyler, is seven, so we reviewed the 2nd grade program, which included 18 art lessons and stories.  My other son is only four years old and was able to create his own version of the projects as well.

There is a supply list included with each grade level and a link to an online store to purchase supplies.  One money saving tip I’d like to share is to not worry about buying the pricier supplies off the list.  I used the markers, paint, and cheap paintbrushes we had and they worked just fine.

The lessons focused on concepts such as patterns, symmetry, overlapping, texture, and much more.  Your child will also have the opportunity to study well-known artists, such as Monet, Salvador Dali, and Georgia O’Keeffe.

As for any cons to this program, initially I had a hard time finding the supply list for each lesson.  There are instructions on how to retrieve this PDF on your CD-ROM over at Home Art Studio’s FAQ section.  I still struggled with opening the PDF, but found if I right clicked on the DVD in the computer tab from my main menu, then clicked on “open,” the PDF could be found in the content folder.  The included lesson plans are incredibly helpful.  Each lesson includes which national standards are covered, materials needed, tips for parents, vocabulary covered, along with step-by-step instructions that include pictures.

After Kyler would finish a lesson, he would actually beg me to do another one.  He LOVED this program and we will absolutely be continuing on with Home Art Studio.  I highly recommend this art program to any family who wants to instill a sense of creativity through art, while meeting learning goals at the same time at a very affordable price.  “This program is designed to increase students’ love and appreciation of the visual arts while enhancing a child’s ability to problem solve, think creatively, and truly see the world around them.”  I absolutely agree that this program exceeds those goals with flying colors!

When I asked my son what he thought of the new art lessons, he said “They’re fun, fun, fun!  I like to hang my work on the fridge so everyone can see it.”  My son struggles with hyperactivity and fine motor skills, so for something to keep him engaged and begging for more– I know it’s a keeper.  Home Art Studio is absolutely “kid-tested and mother-approved!”

Now for the best part… Home Art Studio has FREE art lessons available over on their website, so you can try out a lesson with your child and see if the program is a good fit for your family.  Each grade level is available for only $24.99, but Home Art Studio is offering Motherhood on a Dime readers a coupon code good for up to 30% off!  Simply enter the code HSC2013A by 12.31.13 to receive 30% off three DVDs, making them only $17.49 each.  You can even use the code to purchase one or two DVDs to receive 20% off, making each DVD only $19.99 each.   When you do the math, each lesson is available for under a $1 and will be well worth every penny when you see the sense of pride and accomplishment on your children’s faces after they create each masterpiece!  Try out a FREE lesson— I’m confident your family will love Home Art Studio as much as mine has!