Beautiful Feet Books Art Appreciation Review: A Secular Homeschool Perspective

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Thank you to Beautiful Feet Books for sponsoring this post and providing me with a copy of the new Art Appreciation: A Family Study for review.

As a homeschool mom, I’m always looking for electives that help my children connect with beauty, creativity, and culture without feeling like they’re just adding another textbook to the pile. One of the reasons I’m drawn to Beautiful Feet Books is their literature-based, Charlotte Mason picture study approach, which makes subjects feel rich, meaningful, and accessible—even for parents who don’t consider themselves “art experts.”

That was exactly our experience with Art Appreciation: A Family Study.

If you’re looking for a homeschool art appreciation curriculum that is gentle, structured, and designed for real family learning, this curriculum fits beautifully into a Charlotte Mason–inspired homeschool. It also serves as a strong option for families seeking a homeschool art history curriculum that doesn’t feel overwhelming or overly academic.

Why We Chose Beautiful Feet Books Art Appreciation

We came to this curriculum after already enjoying other Beautiful Feet Books studies. What I appreciate most is how they create structure without overwhelming the parent. Everything is laid out in a way that builds confidence—even if you don’t have a background in art history.

Beautiful Feet Books is known for creating structured yet flexible, literature-based curriculum using carefully selected books, teacher guides, and simple materials that make it possible for parents—regardless of background—to confidently teach subjects like art appreciation and art history at home. The goal is to make rich subjects accessible, meaningful, and sustainable for real homeschool families.

This is very much a literature-based Charlotte Mason picture study approach, where children learn by observing real artwork, discussing what they see, and slowly building familiarity with artists and movements over time.

Even more importantly, it fits the Beautiful Feet Books family study model: one purchase, one prep, and the entire family learning together at the same table. Instead of juggling multiple levels or separate lesson plans, everything is designed so siblings of different ages can engage with the same books, art cards, and conversations at once—making it both practical and sustainable for busy homeschool days.

It doesn’t feel like “teaching art history.” It feels like learning to see—and helping children build confidence in how they observe and understand the world around them.

And that matters.

What’s Included in the Curriculum

Art Appreciation: A Family Study includes:

Teacher Guide
Book of Artists
Art Notebook
Art Card Pack featuring high-quality artwork reproductions
Digital Resource Packet

The structure makes this an easy-to-follow homeschool fine arts elective, especially for families who want something organized but not rigid. Lessons are short, flexible, and designed for that one-table, all-ages learning approach that makes Beautiful Feet Books so effective for family-style homeschooling.

Why This Works So Well for Homeschool Families

One of the biggest strengths of this curriculum is how it builds confidence for non-expert parents.

You don’t need to know art history.
You don’t need to be artistic.

You simply open the guide, look at the artwork together, and talk.

That’s it.

Over time, those simple conversations turn into real understanding of composition, technique, and artistic intention. It’s a very Charlotte Mason–inspired rhythm: short lessons, close observation, and meaningful discussion rather than busywork or memorization.

As secular homeschoolers, we also appreciate that the focus stays on the artists, their work, and historical context without feeling prescriptive. It leaves room for families to engage with the material in a way that fits their own worldview.

Exploring Some of Our Favorite Artists

Several of the artists included were already favorites in my home—but revisiting them alongside my children gave me a deeper appreciation than I ever had as a student.

Vincent van Gogh

Van Gogh has long been a personal favorite of mine. His use of color and movement is instantly recognizable.

And if you’re a Doctor Who fan, you already know why the episode “Vincent and the Doctor” hits so hard. It’s impossible not to think of that story when studying his work with kids.

Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse has been part of my art memory since middle school. I still remember making a Matisse-inspired collage as a student and being amazed at how simple shapes could create something so expressive.

When my own children studied Matisse, we created our own cut-paper collages. It became one of those simple, multi-age homeschool activities that everyone could enjoy together.

George Seurat

I first learned about George Seurat and pointillism in Mr. Maier’s middle school art class, and it completely changed how I thought about painting.

Years later, my children had the same “wait… it’s ALL dots?” reaction.

We recreated pointillism using dots to build color and shading, and it quickly became a lesson in patience and observation.

And of course, Seurat’s work naturally brings to mind Sunday in the Park with George. If you’ve seen Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, you probably remember that iconic museum scene with A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.

A Curriculum That Builds Confidence (Not Just Content)

One of the things I appreciate most about Beautiful Feet Books Art Appreciation is that it doesn’t assume the parent is an expert.

Instead, it gives you a clear structure and invites you to learn alongside your children. That makes it especially powerful for families who want a Charlotte Mason picture study–style experience without having to build everything from scratch.

It’s gentle, flexible, and surprisingly rich.

And because it functions as a true homeschool art appreciation curriculum with a simple family rhythm, it becomes something that actually gets done consistently—not something that sits on a shelf waiting for “extra time.”

A Great Fit for Secular Homeschoolers

As secular homeschoolers, we found this curriculum to be a great fit for our family.

While Beautiful Feet Books is a Christian publisher, Art Appreciation: A Family Study focuses on artists, techniques, and historical context in a way that worked well in our homeschool.

We were able to engage fully with the material while keeping the focus on art itself—what we see, what we notice, and what we think.

Who This Curriculum Is Best For

This is a strong fit if you are looking for a:

Charlotte Mason picture study approach
Homeschool fine arts elective that is easy to implement
Family-style curriculum across multiple ages
Literature-based, discussion-driven learning experience
Gentle introduction to art history and appreciation
Low-prep option for non-expert parents
One-table, one-prep, all-ages family study model

This makes it a strong option for families searching for a Charlotte Mason picture study curriculum, homeschool art appreciation curriculum, or homeschool art history curriculum that is simple, flexible, and family-centered.

Special Offer: Free U.S. Shipping

Beautiful Feet Books is currently offering:

Free U.S. shipping with coupon code: IHN26FS

This code is valid through July 31, 2026, so if you’re considering adding this to your homeschool, now is a great time to take advantage of the savings.

👉 You can explore Art Appreciation: A Family Study, view samples, and order directly here.

👉 Don’t forget to use code IHN26FS at checkout for free U.S. shipping (valid through July 31, 2026).

Final Thoughts

Art appreciation has become one of those quiet but meaningful parts of our homeschool week. It slows us down, invites conversation, and helps my children see art as something approachable rather than intimidating.

And for me personally, it has been a joy to revisit artists I first met as a student—like Matisse and Seurat—and experience them again through my children’s eyes.

If you’re looking for a Charlotte Mason picture study–based homeschool fine arts elective that is simple to implement, family-friendly, and genuinely enriching, Beautiful Feet Books Art Appreciation is worth a look.