Art is one of our universally most favorite things ever. We love looking it, finding beauty wherever we look; we love creating it, and learning new media and techniques. As much as art is an everyday thing for our family, I don’t always do the best at teaching thoroughly. There are different tools and media I just never think to actually teach my younger children about. (It seems as though there are more than a few things that the younger children just pick up rather than being explicitly taught) That leaves gaps and some things they just don’t know about. Even if they find a resource to learn on their own, they may lack the vocabulary to fully understand what they are trying to learn. We are so glad to have Volume 1, Art for Children, Building a Visual Vocabulary from ARTistic Pursuits, Inc. updated offerings for our younger learners, ARTistic Pursuits Art Instruction Books with DVD and Blu-Ray.
We have used other ARTistic Pursuits materials in our homeschool and have found the instruction to be great. My children have been able to follow and complete each lesson and project fairly independently. They have been challenged, but not too much to be discouraged. They have been very pleased with their finished projects, displaying them proudly (or gifting them to grandparents who did). One thing we have not used before is the books for the youngest ages, K-3. As creative as our youngest son (8 years old) is, I knew there were many things he did not know. Not because he lacked artistic thought or skill, but simply because he didn’t know it was something he needed to know. Now, normally, this boy will just jump in and create whatever he wants and figures things out as he goes. But I knew he needed some proper instruction. Not necessarily on how to use his art supplies, but the techniques and possibilities. That is where Building a Visual Vocabulary comes in (complete with DVD instruction).
In case you are not familiar with ARTistic Pursuits, not only is art instruction covered in the lessons, but also exposure to great works of art. Art history or appreciation is just as much a part of the material covered as teaching various techniques and tools. Another aspect we have come to appreciate is the emphasis on observation. Students are continually encouraged to use the world around them as examples and inspiration for creating their own art.
All of this is included in the Art Instruction Books for our K-3 children. The first volume, the one we received for this review, covers twelve different “things an artist sees” from shapes to texture as well as characteristics of an artist such as imagining and communicating. These are covered throughout 18 lessons (a semester’s worth if covered one per week). In addition to the hardcover, full-color text, these new editions contain two discs – one is a DVD, the other a Blu-Ray. Six of the eighteen lessons are presented via the videos on the disc. The videos vary in length and cover the proper use of the materials – from watercolor crayons and oil pastels to scissors and glue sticks. I cannot tell you how much I loved that there was “proper” instruction for how to use a glue stick (don’t turn too much up, etc.). When a “real” teacher tells you to do it, it is much more likely to be followed than when mom says it (repeatedly).
The works of art used in each lesson are listed with the lesson in the table of contents. We will be including further studies of some of these artists as time and interest permits. The other volumes of this series cover specific periods of history (and artistic styles). That allows for them to be incorporated along with the history time periods studied or used with a family art appreciation study. Other than some easily obtainable supplies (so easy you can order them right with the book from ARTistic Pursuits) everything you need is right here. The specific supplies you need for each lesson are indicated in a box on that lesson’s page. This is truly open-and-go – whether you are art-phobic or an art fan.
Other Crew families reviewed other titles from this new series from ARTistic Pursuits, Inc. Be sure to check them out by clicking the image below.
