Welcome to Delightful Art Co.

Well, hello there, friend! Pull up a chair, grab a cup of tea (and maybe a sketchbook), and welcome to the very first post on the Delightful Art Co. blog.

I've been dreaming about this little corner of the internet for a while now. It's a place where I can share the ideas, stories, and creative inspiration that make homeschooling a little more beautiful. Whether you've been painting with us for years or you just stumbled in, I'm so glad you're here.

A little about me

I'm Courtney Sanford: wife to Chris, mom of three grown kids, proud owner of a very sweet dog named Zoey, and an artist who has been teaching for over 30 years.

I studied graphic design at NC State, and my path since then has been wonderfully winding. I've taught art in Raleigh and Colorado Springs, led bicycle tours, designed for a performing arts center, and spent many happy years writing and designing curriculum for Classical Conversations.

Most importantly, I homeschooled my three children for more than 16 years. I know the joy of it, and I know the juggle. That's exactly why Delightful Art Co. exists.

These days I also serve as an adjunct professor of fine arts at Bryan College, write books (the Art and History trilogy, Reflections on Art History, Draw Your Way into the Woods, and Marvelous to Behold, among others), and lead art retreats and study abroad trips. When I'm not teaching, I'm planning the next art retreat or trip to Europe to see my granddaughter and great art!

How Delightful Art Co. began

Delightful Art Co. started the way a lot of good things do: with a handful of lemons. When the Covid shutdown closed the door on my in-person art classes, I had to figure out how to keep teaching. So I picked up those lemons, moved everything online, and made lemonade.

To my surprise and delight, the online classes grew year after year. Today we have a whole team of wonderful teachers, several of them my own former students. I love giving young Christian artists a meaningful, paying way to use their gifts. We have former students working as interns in illustration, graphic design, and social media as well as teaching art classes and writing books!

Why art and academics belong together

Here's something I believe with my whole heart: we were created to create. The very first thing Scripture tells us about God is that He is a Creator, and a few verses later, that we are made in His image. When we make something beautiful, we're doing what we were designed to do.

So instead of starting with a worksheet, our students start with a blank art journal. As they paint their way through ancient Egypt, sketch the parts of a flower, or illustrate a Latin vocabulary word, they create their own illustrated book on the subject. The art doesn't take time away from learning. It deepens it, and it makes the learning stick.

And honestly? It's a lot more fun.

What you'll find here

I know homeschool life is full, so we've tried to make it easy to bring a world-class art experience right to your kitchen table. There's a way in for every family, ages 6 all the way to college credit:

• Live online classes that blend art with history, science, Latin, math, great books, geography, and even courtroom sketching. Can't make it live? Every class is recorded.

• Self-paced classes for flexible schedules, with a private online community where our teachers cheer you on and give feedback. You'll be on your own, but never alone.

• Books and sketchbooks so you can bring delightful, arts-integrated lessons into your own homeschool.

• College credit through Bryan College for students in grades 10 to 12.

• Art retreats and family study abroad, because learning happens best in relationship, and some lessons are best learned standing in front of the real thing.

  

  Beach retreats: where relationships between students and teachers bloom

What's coming on the blog

This blog will be a place to share creative homeschooling tips, simple art projects you can try at home, peeks into our classes and travels, and inspiration from learning together. Mostly, I hope it helps you find a little more delight in your homeschool days.

If you'd like to dip your toes in, take a free trial class or join the newsletter for free resources and updates. Spring semester registration opens in mid-October, so now is a perfect time to look around.

Thank you for stopping by. I can't wait to create alongside you!

Warmly,

Courtney

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4