7 Best Homeschool Art Curriculum Programs (Online & Offline Picks)

Are you looking for a homeschool art curriculum that actually adds fun to your homeschool… instead of quietly becoming that subject you keep pushing to Friday afternoon because you just don’t have the mental space for it? 😅

Art sounds dreamy. It sounds creative. It sounds wholesome.

And then suddenly someone can’t find the watercolor paper, someone else is crying because their dog looks like a potato, and you’re wondering how a subject that’s supposed to be relaxing turned into mild chaos.

So today I’m ranking 7 of the best homeschool art curriculum programs, from fully offline book-based options to live online studio classes.

I’m telling you which homeschool method they fit, whether they’re online or offline, what’s actually included, how much teaching you have to do, and what a busy homeschool mum really needs to know before committing.

We’re starting at number 7 and working our way up to the one I think is the most complete, low-prep option for most families. 👀

#7 – “Creating a Masterpiece”

Charlotte Mason + Step-by-Step Video Lessons 🌿🎥

If you’re a Charlotte Mason homeschooler but you also want actual hands-on drawing and painting instruction, Simply Charlotte Mason recommends the step-by-step video lessons, Creating a Masterpiece.

This means your child isn’t just studying great art — they’re actually being guided through projects on screen, with demonstrations they can pause and follow. That’s huge for busy mums who don’t feel confident teaching art themselves.

It’s a digital format, so you’ll need supplies on hand, but the instructions are in the video.

I’d rank the ease of teaching as low to medium, because you’re more of a facilitator than an instructor.

This is especially strong for Charlotte Mason families who want to keep that appreciation element while adding structured skill development — without turning art into a parent-led mini art school.

#6 – BJU Press “With Art in Mind”

Traditional / Structured 📚

Now we move into something much more structured. If you appreciate traditional homeschool curriculum where everything is clearly laid out and you’re not reinventing the wheel, BJU Press has a book called With Art in Mind that is surprisingly solid.

This is a 60-lesson art guide designed roughly for ages 8–13, and it walks students through the elements and principles of design in a straightforward, step-by-step way. It’s not flashy, and it doesn’t try to be trendy. Instead, it focuses on giving children a foundation in how art actually works.

It is completely offline, which means no videos to manage, no logins to remember, and no screen time required. You provide the basic supplies — pencils, paper, simple materials — and the book walks you through what to do. Because the lessons are clearly explained, the ease of teaching is low to medium. You’ll introduce the lesson, make sure they understand the task, and then they can get on with it.

Price-wise, it sits around the $30 range, which makes it one of the more affordable structured options on this list.

If you are a mum who wants something dependable and organized — not craft chaos, not vague inspiration, but actual art instruction — this is a calm and competent choice.

#5 – Memoria Press “Creating Art”

Classical Method 🏛️

Now we step into the Classical homeschool world, where order, structure, and mastery matter. Memoria Press offers Creating Art, which is designed especially for grammar stage students and blends technique with a bit of art history and even assessment.

This isn’t just “draw something pretty.” It covers basic art techniques, color theory, and introductory art history, and it even includes quizzes to reinforce learning. So if you’re a classical homeschooler who likes knowing that subjects are building knowledge intentionally, this will feel consistent with the rest of your homeschool.

It’s an offline curriculum, meaning you’re working from the book and gathering your own supplies. The ease of teaching is low to medium, because the structure is there, but you are still facilitating the lesson and organizing materials.

The price sits around $23.75, which makes it one of the more budget-friendly structured options.

If you’re raising little classical scholars and you want art to feel purposeful rather than random, this is a lovely fit. It’s not loud, it’s not flashy — it’s simply steady and thoughtful.

#4 – Veritas Press Art Studio

Classical / Serious Studio Art 🎨

This is where things get serious.

If you have a child who is genuinely passionate about art — the kind of kid who sketches for fun and actually wants to improve — Veritas Press Art Studio is in a different category. This is not a light elective. This is a studio-level experience.

They offer a Live Online version, where students meet with a teacher, receive instruction, participate in demonstrations, and even receive critiques. They also offer a you-teach version, which places more responsibility on the parent.

The live version includes work in drawing, charcoal, pastels, acrylic and watercolor painting, observational drawing, and portfolio development, and students typically complete around 2–3 hours of homework per week. This is structured skill-building.

Now, LIVE lessons are expensive. We’re talking roughly the $800 range for something like Art Studio II. But what you’re paying for is depth, feedback, and a serious art foundation.

In terms of teaching load, the live version is low effort for mum, because the instructor carries the teaching. The you-teach version is high effort, because you are the facilitator.

If your goal is genuine art development, especially for older students, this is strong.

If your goal is “just cover art nicely once a week,” this may be more than you need.

#3 – SchoolhouseTeachers.com

Online / Eclectic / Big Family Win 💻

Now let’s talk about value.

SchoolhouseTeachers.com is an online membership platform that includes hundreds of courses across subjects — and that includes art. What makes it rank so highly is not that it’s the deepest art curriculum on the market, but that it’s incredibly practical, especially for larger families.

You’ll find preschool art, elementary art, more advanced options, art history, printable lessons, and even video-based instruction. For example, their pen and ink lessons include step-by-step demonstrations that kids can pause and follow at their own pace, which is incredibly helpful if you don’t feel confident teaching art yourself.

Because it’s a membership, one subscription covers your whole family, across all grades and subjects. That matters if you have multiple kids.

The format is online with printable components and video lessons, and I’d rank the ease of teaching as low to medium, because you’re more of an organizer than an instructor. You may print materials, assign lessons, and check work, but the content carries itself.

Pricing is around $389 per year, although they frequently run sales. When you factor in that it includes the entire curriculum library, it can be an extremely good deal.

If you’re eclectic, budget-conscious, or already using Schoolhouse Teachers for other subjects, this is a very practical art solution.

#2 – MasterBooks Living Art Lessons

Gentle / Charlotte Mason–Inspired ✨

MasterBooks has really found a sweet spot with their Living Art Lessons program. It feels gentle, approachable, and very homeschool-friendly. It does not feel like it was designed for a classroom of 30 students — it feels like it was designed for a mum at her kitchen table.

You can purchase the lesson book on its own, or buy a set that includes an Artist Journal, which gives students space to draw, write, and reflect. That journal component adds a lovely layer of ownership and creativity.

This is an offline curriculum, so no screens required. You will gather basic supplies, but nothing unusual. The ease of teaching is low, because the lessons are written clearly and are very manageable.

Price-wise, you’re looking at roughly $25–$50 depending on the version, which makes it affordable and accessible.

If you want art to feel calm and enriching rather than overwhelming, MasterBooks is a beautiful balance between structure and creativity.

🥇 #1 – Sonlight ARTistic Pursuits

Literature-Based Homeschool 📖🎨

And here we are at number one.

Sonlight uses ARTistic Pursuits, and what makes this stand out is not just the curriculum itself, but the option to purchase coordinated supply kits that come in a bag. And if you are a busy homeschool mum, that detail alone might make you exhale. 😌

Because one of the biggest barriers to consistent art lessons is not knowing what to buy, what you’re missing, or whether you’ll discover halfway through that you don’t have the right paper.

Sonlight offers kits by grade band — K–3, 4–6, Junior High, and beyond — and those kits include the supplies needed for the projects. The curriculum itself covers elements of art, principles of design, art history and cultures, and multiple mediums including drawing, ink, pastels, and clay.

It’s fully offline, structured, and cohesive. You open the book, use the supplies provided, and follow the lesson. The ease of teaching is low, because the structure is there and the materials are ready.

Pricing varies by level, but you’re generally in the $120–$180 range per level when purchasing packages, depending on grade band and kit combination.

For literature-based homeschoolers, especially, this integrates beautifully. It feels complete. It feels intentional. And it removes the mental load of sourcing supplies.

If you want art that is structured, skill-building, and genuinely doable without becoming the art department of your house, this is a very strong choice.

🎁 Bonus – Easy Peasy (Free Option)

If your budget right now is… let’s just say “creative” 😅, Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool offers a free drawing and painting course intended for ages 7–12. It requires inexpensive, easy-to-find materials and assumes no prior art experience.

It’s not fancy. It’s not premium. But it’s free — and sometimes that’s exactly what a family needs.