What Curriculum Options and Materials Does How Great Thou ART Offer?

How Great Thou ART (howgreatthouart.com) is a homeschool and Christian-school art curriculum created by artist and teacher Barry Stebbing, organized by age band from preschool through adult. The main options are age-graded books and courses, DVD instruction in drawing and painting, and a recommended art materials list you check before buying. The site shows a checkout page but no prices in the material available here, so treat any cost as something to confirm at checkout rather than assume.

Curriculum options by age

The site groups its curriculum into four bands:

A separate title, Annie's (ages 4–8), combines social graces and scripture with simple art lessons — dinner etiquette, listening, obeying parents, writing thank-you cards, saying "please" and "thank you" — over 100 pages.

Because the bands overlap at the edges (11 appears in both elementary and middle school; 13 in both middle and high school), pick by your child's current skill and attention span rather than the number alone.

DVD instruction

DVD courses are a distinct option from the books:

• Beginning Drawing — presented with "Wally the Worm"; students follow along with paper and pencil, and the site notes parents can join.
• Beginning Painting — includes color theory and step-by-step instruction.
• Produced in the studios of the American Family Association; each course is described as 6 hours of lessons.
• The site positions the DVDs as suitable for Christian schools and art classrooms as well as home use.

There is also a broadcast component: "Beginning Drawing & Painting" with Mr. Stebbing airs Saturdays at 10:00 am on NRBTV, which lets you sample the teaching style before committing to a course.

What the curriculum teaches

Across the programs, the stated focus is teaching the fundamentals through easy-to-follow, step-by-step instruction, with a Christian perspective woven in (the site quotes Isaiah 28:10, "precept upon precept, line upon line"). Specific skills named in the material include drawing, painting, color theory, lettering, and beginning writing, plus the practical and devotional content in the younger titles.

Materials to check before buying

The site repeatedly points to a Recommended Art Materials list rather than bundling supplies, and several product descriptions say "inquire about our recommended materials." Before ordering a course:

1. Open the recommended materials list on the site.
2. Compare it against what you already own (paper, pencils, paints, brushes).
3. Note that some titles are described as needing materials you supply separately.
4. Check the DVD courses' requirements if you choose video instruction over books.

Pricing and checkout

The only pricing signal in the available material is a Checkout link at howgreatthouart.com/checkout/. Several titles show former prices with a current discount — for example, Classics for the Little Ones was $10.95, and three titles listed at $14.95 or $24.95 are shown "Now Only $7.95" or "$9.95." These figures come from the site's own promotional text and may be outdated; confirm the actual price at checkout. No payment platforms or free-access terms are stated in the material, so don't assume the curriculum is free or that no account is needed.

How to choose

• Ages 3–5: start with the preschool titles for pre-writing and lettering basics.
• Ages 6–11: elementary courses with story-based lessons, or the Beginning Drawing DVD if your child prefers following a teacher on screen.
• Ages 11–13 and up: middle school and high school/adult bands, plus Beginning Painting for color theory.
• Classroom or co-op use: the DVDs are explicitly marketed for Christian schools and art classrooms.
• Budget-conscious buyers: check the discounted titles first, then verify the price at checkout.

The site backs its programs with a satisfaction guarantee and notes the curriculum has been used for over 20 years, with recognition including Cathy Duffy Top Picks.