Twenty art lessons—just enough to teach the basic principles of art. All your student will need is a pencil, crayons, and hands-on pages of this handy draw-in book to self-teach important concepts in art. I like to teach the concept before passing out the books so the children understand well before attempting the artwork. Covers these concepts: primary and secondary colors, mixing colors, warm and cool colors, line, texture, shape, form, space, values, proportions, balance, faces, grids, crosshatching, shading, and overlapping. Buy a book for each student. Spiralbound, for grades 4-7.
This excellent collection of over 200 creative art experiences for children is my first choice for my homeschool and will keep you going on art projects in every medium for at least a whole year. Chapters include: Paper & Collage, Crayon & Chalk, Paint & Dye, Printing, Sculpting & Modeling, and Craft & Construction with more than 20 different projects in each chapter.
I've found this book to be the one best source of all kinds of interesting creative projects such as: veggie prints, newspaper sculpture, bead clay, marbling, wire sculpture, puppetry, treasure box, branch weaving, goop, bubble print, puff paint and much more. You'll find enough imaginative help to easily take you through a year of creative art instruction. I personally prefer this approach to art, rather than the "cut-and-color-from-a-copy" approach. Paperback, black and white pleasing illustrations, 158 pages. Highly recommended for all ages.
Here's a fun and easy workbook to urge any reluctant artist into the joyful world of drawing. Basic principles such as perspective, shading, overlapping, foreshortening, etc., are taught through large, simple cartoon illustrations with room to work right in the book. Based on the same principles as the Drawing Textbook and Draw Squad, this is a briefer version, a workbook for beginners who can read. (Note: Two pages teach how to draw a "young female" who really needs more clothing-you can easily dress her up with a black marker.) Paperback workbook has 59 pages for ages 8 years and up.
The concept taught in this book is incredible! Everyone, not just the artistic, can learn to draw realistically just as nearly everyone can read or write. 222 lessons clearly and simply teach hands-on such principles as alignment, perspective, foreshortening, shading, etc. You and your children can master the skill of drawing just like you learned to read—through simple lessons teaching basic skills and practice. I draw the lesson (such as a box in 3-D) step-by-step on a paper or chalkboard and have the children draw along with me on their papers. You will see unbelievable improvement in just a few lessons! Paperback, black-and-white drawings, 60 pages.
Start step-by-step by sketching introductory tables, chairs, boxes, cakes, fishbowls, and then progress to more difficult objects such as sawhorses, houses, and characters. Simple, friendly, funny, and very instructive—your child can easily self-teach with this imaginative write-in workbook that my children think is pure fun! I use it as a basic art course. Sound art principles in a fun-to-use workbook format. Paperback, 251 pages, ages 9 through adult.
Learn how to draw in 3-D! Draw right in this illustrated workbook through 36 very fun drawing adventures! Start step-by-step by sketching introductory objects and progress to more difficult drawing projects. Simple, friendly, funny, and very instructive your child can easily self-teach with this imaginative write-in workbook that my children think is pure fun! I use it as a basic art course. Based on the enduring principles of art, such as foreshortening, perspective, and more. Paperback, 282 pages, for ages 9 through adult
If you have a child with artistic ability, this book will coax out their creative genius! I was stunned at the progress my daughter Louisa made once this book was in her hands! She went from cartoony people to breathtakingly realistic eyes, noses, lips, ears . . . human beings!
Everything is broken down into simple steps, so it is easy to follow and get great results. The author's techniques, gridding and shading, are so simple and yet very effective! Follow the exercises for a great art course for ages 10 through adult! One of the exercises is drawing a scrambled grid, where you have to draw the contents of each square exactly as you see it, resulting in a mystery picture solved! This is great training for "really seeing" things as they are. There are plenty of examples of the author's own amazing artwork as well as that of students throughout the book. This is definitely the very best drawing book I have found for teaching one to draw realistic human portraits!
Young children will feel great accomplishment using these fun art books! Vivid color pictures and step-by-step instructions build each figure clearly so even the most hesitant young artist can succeed.
I Can Draw Animals
Includes simple horses, frogs, dolphins, and more.
I Can Draw People
Children will learn to draw simple people of all kinds: a queen, king, ballerina, cowboy, horse and rider, pirate, skier, ice skater, astronaut, scuba diver, soccer player, and more.
Developing strong motor control and pencil control skills is an important foundation for writing letters and numbers. My First Book of Drawing helps children refine these skills by bringing them through all the steps from tracing simple lines and shapes to creating pictures of objects they are familiar with, such as an apple or a cat. Ages 3-5. Follow with Amazing Mazes.
Do you have watercolor paints or oil pastels and don't know how to use them? Are you stuck, without ideas for things to paint or draw, or art projects using all your lovely art supplies? This inspiring book will show you just how to use them. Follow the easy step-by-step instructions to create stunning paintings and drawings. Also contains valuable information on how to choose art materials, paintbrushes and paper types; color-mixing, and painting perspective and highlights. Over 200 ideas for things to do with acrylic paints, chalk pastels, inks, poster paints, tissue paper, oil pastels, crayons, and watercolors. Flexibound, 96 pages, oversized book with color photographs on every page. 8 to adult.
Visit the 7 continents through craft fun. I have used this book to enrich our history and geography studies and found the projects simple and fun to make. Uses easy to find materials, such as brown paper bags, paper plates, cereal boxes, etc. Some of the projects we've enjoyed most include a Vietnamese cone hat and a cardboard pyramid. Paperback, black and white drawings, 128 pages, for ages 3 to 7 years.
Here's my favorite books for teaching art to your whole family (ages 5-12 years) all at the same time, unit-study fashion. Teaches drawing, crafts, appreciaton of the great artists, and hands-on application of their styles for a memorable experience! Basic equipment for teaching art in homeschool!
Drawing Textbook
The concept taught in this book is incredible! Everyone, not just the artistic, can learn to draw realistically just as nearly everyone can read or write. 222 lessons clearly and simply teach hands-on such principles as alignment, perspective, foreshortening, shading, etc. You and your children can master the skill of drawing just like you learned to read—through simple lessons teaching basic skills and practice. I draw the lesson (such as a box in 3-D) step-by-step on a paper or chalkboard and have the children draw along with me on their papers. You will see unbelievable improvement in just a few lessons! Paperback, black-and-white drawings, 60 pages.
How to Use Child-Size Masterpieces for Art Appreciation
This teacher/parent guidebook will help you teach hands-on art appreciation at every level, using inexpensive color postcards. The program is unique in that you can know absolutely nothing about art and learn right along with your children. Being able to handle the masterpieces is a far cry from the hands-off feeling of museums. This book will take you through the basic steps of developing art appreciation, beginning with preschoolers and advancing through high school skills:
Step 1-Match identical paintings (purchase 2 identical volumes of postcards below).
Step 2-Pair two similar paintings by the same artist.
Step 3-Be able to recognize and group four paintings by several artists.
Step 4-Learn the names of famous artists.
Step 5-Learn the names of famous paintings.
Step 6-Learn the movements or "schools" of art: Impressionism, Modern, etc.
Step 7-Learn to sort paintings by schools of art.
Step 8-Place paintings on a time line.
Paperback, 95 pages, black-and-white illustrations. Child-size Masterpiece Cards sold separately here.
Scribble Art
This excellent collection of over 200 creative art experiences for children is my first choice for my homeschool and will keep you going on art projects in every medium for at least a whole year. Chapters include: Paper & Collage, Crayon & Chalk, Paint & Dye, Printing, Sculpting & Modeling, and Craft & Construction with more than 20 different projects in each chapter. I've found this book to be the one best source of all kinds of interesting creative projects such as: veggie prints, newspaper sculpture, bead clay, marbling, wire sculpture, puppetry, treasure box, branch weaving, goop, bubble print, puff paint and much more. You'll find enough imaginative help to easily take you through a year of creative art instruction. I personally prefer this approach to art, rather than the "cut-and-color-from-a-copy" approach. Paperback, black and white pleasing illustrations, 158 pages. Highly recommended for all ages. Buy the book separately, above.
Discovering Great Artists
I can't imagine a better way to really learn about the great artists than to try out their styles and methods! This ingenious book introduces 110 unique art activities to lead your child into experiencing the techniques of the great masters, from the Renaissance to the present. A brief biography of each artist is followed by a fully illustrated encounter with sculpting, drawing, architecture and more. What could be more memorable after learning about Michelangelo than to try painting while lying on your back, Sistine-chapel-style? These art appreciation lessons will not be soon forgotten! Geared for children ages 4-12. Paperback, 160 pages, black-and-white illustrations.
Watercolor for the Artistically Undiscovered 10% Off
That's what we are, isn't it?. . . just "undiscovered artists" waiting for the talent to burst forth. This clever book has the effect of teaching those of us who feel untalented that it is fun and easy to paint! This is a complete learn-to-watercolor kit that includes high quality artist paints and brush; watercolor paper bound right into the book; lessons with plenty of samples to learn from; plus hints; techniques; goofy, inspirational instructions; and encouragement from an expert (children's book illustrator, Thacher Hurd). Very educational, yet thrilling to work through. My son Nathan and I both enjoyed it immensely and couldn't wait to get our chores done so we could paint. Foolproof and highly recommended! Wirebound, 72 cardstock pages, artist quality paint set included.
Great art fun and drawing practice! 45 fun-to-finish illustrations are just waiting for your creative child to put the action into each setting! Captions at the bottom of each page jump-start the imagination preventing the "what-shall-I-draw?" blank. Quality thick white paper does not bleed though—great for markers, crayons or colored pencils. Paperback, 48 pages, 8 x 11" format, for ages 5-14 years.
Serious artists will appreciate this generously sized, 9" x 12", wire-bound pad of professional quality paper. Its thickness and slight texture make it ideal for charcoals, as well as, pencils, crayons and markers. Two drawing exercises are included to get you started!
Feature jumbo-sized, beautiful artwork on premium quality bond paper that works great with markers, pencils and crayons. Pages tear out cleanly for display or gift giving! 11 x 14" size, 50 pages, for ages 3 and up.
Feature jumbo-sized, beautiful artwork on premium quality bond paper that works great with markers, pencils and crayons. Pages tear out cleanly for display or gift giving! 11 x 14" size, 50 pages, for ages 3 and up.
