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Yo Gabba Gabba

Lately I’ve read several interviews with Devo co-founder Mark Mothersbaugh, whose huge archive of visual art is currently on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver.

“If it’s three in the morning and I didn’t do any drawings all day, I have to wake up and do it,” he told Studio 360 host Kurt Andersen.

How does one become so dedicated to drawing? For Mark, it started when he was a kid – and he has certainly done his part to keep younger generations passionate about the pencil. Today, most of us – parents and non-parents alike – have seen him on Yo Gabba Gabba!, where he offers fun drawing tutorials on a recurring segment called “Mark’s Magic Pictures.”

Mothersbaugh is one of several TV personalities who have taught kids to draw over the years. Those who grew up in the Boston area may recall Bob Cottle, aka “Captain Bob,” whose long-running series showed kids how to sketch wildlife:

In the ‘80s I watched The Secret City Adventures, a PBS show where “Commander Mark” Kistler taught children how to draw in pretty astounding detail. (In contrast to Cottle’s nature-loving theme, Secret City was more futuristic.)

The list goes on, from Pappyland in the ‘90s – same concept, hillbilly theme – to Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings, the ‘toon about a kid whose scribbles come to life. (You may remember Mike Myers’ Saturday Night Live parody better than the original show.)

As my daughter starts spending more time with crayons – and I’ve been spending more time scrubbing them off the walls – I’ve been looking into more spots where today’s kids are learning how to sketch and shade. A few of my faves:

HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON. So maybe your child doesn’t have the attention span to sit still for more than 10 minutes, let alone draw. Instead, try streaming the animated version of the best-selling books; it’s available on Amazon Instant, and select episodes can be found on YouTube.
ART FOR KIDS. This family-friendly YouTube channel offers dozens of drawing lessons for all skill levels. It’s well-organized and features quick tutorials on how to sketch everything from zoo animals to SpongeBob to those insanely popular Minecraft characters.
COLOR CREW. Parents can get a head start on their babies’ and toddlers’ creative careers with this color-themed web series. Hosted by an assortment of giggling crayons, the show is very popular – most eps have hundreds of thousands of views – but after awhile, they may test your sanity in a Teletubbies kind of way.
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF THE ARTS. This New York children’s museum posts delightful short clips and animations every day. They’re not step-by-step drawing lessons per se – many don’t have sound – but they do illustrate the thrill of making art in a beautifully simple way.

Whitney Matheson (@whitneymatheson) is a pop-culture writer and mother. She sharpens her No. 2 pencils in Brooklyn, N.Y.

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