Friday, December 2, 2011

Artistic Creative Flow


cover k31

One thing that Joey, Lydia and Caty love to do is art.  The girls love to paint and  do almost anything crafty.  Joey enjoys painting and crafts, and loves to draw!  So when we were given the opportunity to review this product, we were very excited.  We gathered the list of suggested supplies and started digging in.


We are really enjoying this program.  I am jealous that I was never introduced to some of these cool art supplies, including watercolor crayons in my public school experience.  Caty, Joey and Lydia all love using them.  These were the supplies need for Lesson 2.  If I wasn't so busy bouncing between kids, I would have sat down and worked on my own piece of art using these.

Here is our Water Color Crayon project:


They were to create a piece of art using their imagination.  They first viewed and we discussed Marc Chagall's, The Birthday (1915), and all the silly things that could not really happen.  Since artists are allowed to use their imagination....this is what can come out.  Then they set to creating.




They provide step-by-step instruction on how to use the watercolor crayons.  If not for this project, we may have never discovered them...as I am art supply illiterate on many supplies.





The introduction of new art supplies and showing the kids how to use them, is one of the main reasons I really like this curriculum.  Everything is layed out for me...the beginner artist dreaming of being a professional, but has no idea where to start with her kids.  You read a lesson a week.  


Each lesson includes art work to explore.  And then step by step instructions for your child to do a project.  The kids are really enjoying this art curriculum.  I enjoy that everything is laid out for me, and my prep is to read the lesson ahead of time and get the supplies ready for the project.  Super easy!!!!


Each lesson is short for the children.  The longest part of the art project is their actual time in 'creating'.  The verbal instruction is limited.   So it is perfect for the short attention spans in our house.


I do admit though that the art supplies can add up in cost.  I spent $26.00 for the supplies for this project.  The water color crayons and the paper added up.  I will have enough paper to last us for several projects, but if you are on a tight budget, you will have to shop around for good prices on some of the items needed.  You could substitute supplies, and still create 'imagination' with regular crayons and markers.  So we could have done the lesson without the "fancier" supplies. So do not let the fear of purchasing extra supplies scare you away from this program.  You can complete the projects without buying the supplies, you can just do them in a different way and still get the educational experience.


Artistic Pursuits offers Art Supply packs.  They offer discounts below list price.  And then you do not have to run around and shop for supplies.  The supply pack for K-3 Book 1 is $55.94.  That is for one student.  A child could share supplies, but with 4 using ours...we need more than one charcoal pencil.


Artistic Pursuits has a wide variety of programs from Preschool through High School.  We are currently using K-3 Book 1, An Introduction to the Visual Arts.  And we are planning on continuing with this art curriculum.  It includes not only drawing and painting, but also sculpting.  This art curriculum really provides homeschoolers a full at home art experience.

From the Artistic Pursuits website:


Read one lesson per week and your child's creative efforts will flourish. From art educators to moms with no art experience; all are successfully teaching children art using ARTistic Pursuits. Lessons capture children's interests and imaginations while introducing the fundamental principles of art. Lessons are divided into three sections as follows:
  • What Artists Do: Ten lessons cover activities artists engage in when making art such as imagining and observing. Children explore drawing and painting techniques, gaining experience in pencil, color, and brush work.
  • What Artists See: Seven lessons cover the elements that artists use in 2-dimesional and 3-dimensional works such as shape, form, and color. Children explore collage, paper works, and color mixing. Children gain experience in handling scissors, glue, and paper forms.
  • Exploring Ancient Art: Fifteen lessons cover ancient art from the cave paintings of France to book illumination of the 13th century. Children see that art is more than just a picture on a wall. Cultures used it in different ways and for different purposes. Lessons expand the child's ideas of what art is and where we find it. Children explore mural, pottery, low-relief, paper art, bookbinding, mosaic techniques and more.

Contents: 1. Artists Compose 2. Artists Imagine 3. Artists Look 4. Artists Communicate 5. Artists Use Photographs 6. Artists Make Landscapes 7. Artists Make Portraits 8. Artists Make Still-lifes 9. Artists Show Experiences 10. Artists Show Works 11. Artists See Shape 12. Artists See Form 13. Artists See Line 14. Artists See Color 15. Artists See Edges 16. Artists See and Remember 17. Artists See Mixed Colors 18. Art in Caves (European Cave Drawings)19. Art Underground (Near-Eastern Pottery) 20. Art in Palaces (Minoan Fresco Painting) 21. Art in Pyramids (Egyptian Murals) 22. Art on Floors (Egyptian Pavement Painting) 23. Art on City Walls (Near Eastern Bas-relief) 24. Art on Pots (Greek Pottery) 25. Art in Tombs (Etruscan Wall Painting) 26. Art in Streets (Roman Sculpture) 27. Art on Roadsides (Roman Portraits) 28. Art in Castles (Medieval Tapestry) 30. Art in Windows (Gothic Glass) 31. Art in Books (Medieval Illumination) 32. Art on Book Covers (Medieval Scriptoria)

Vendor information:


Price: K-3 Book 1 - $42.95
Author:  Brenda Ellis
Where to Buy:  Artistic Pursuits


Check out what other Crew mates thought of the different products.

*****I received Artistic Pursuits K-3 Book 1 free of charge for the sole purpose of this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The views I have expressed are my own and are real experiences with my family. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html>:"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."



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1 comment:

  1. Hi Renita! We reviewed this, too, and you captured my feelings exactly. We will be doing much more from this book, too!

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