Beautiful Artwork thanks to Artistic Pursuits

When my children were in Public School, I loved the beautiful art work they would bring home.  I was truly amazed by their paintings and sculptures. And..as we began to discuss homeschooling, Art was one of the subjects, I was afraid I would fail at miserably.

I enjoyed art as a child.  As an adult, the desire for perfection drove me away from that joy….until my children were born.

So, when we began the Homeschool Journey, we searched for something to help with art…and found Artistic Pursuits!

Recently, we were blessed to receive  Artistic Pursuits K-3 Book 3 Modern Painting and Sculpture.

We have already used and finished most of the artwork in Artistic Pursuits K-3, Book 1: An Introduction to Visual Arts and I reference it often for my 5 year old.  So, I was really excited to receive this new book:  Grades K-3 Book Three Modern Painting and Sculpture from The Homeschool Crew

 

This year, we have joined several other homeschool families for art in a mini art club. Each Mom teaches a week…and the other Moms help the children with their art work.  We have had tons of fun with this.

I have to admit, I love the lessons best, when I get to pull out one of the Artistic Pursuits Lesson books!

They are so amazing!

Brenda Ellis has covered everything for you in these wonderful books.  Each begins with a list of materials you will need for each lesson in the book and an explanation of teaching art in Historical content.

There are over 32 projects in this book…and I could not make a short list for you…there are just so many really fun and inspiring projects!

• Art and the Subject
• Paris, City of Change
• Monet Studies Light
• Renoir Paints  Beautiful People
• Pissarro Paints Bright Colors
• Monet Paints Reflections
• Cassat Paints Life at Home
• Degas Makes Art in Public Places
• Sculpture
• Modeled Sculpture
• Rodin’s Sculpture
• Constructed Sculpture
• Gauguin Carves a Sculpture
• Seurat and the Science of Color
• Cezanne Makes Impressionism Solid
• Van Gogh Paints Ribbons of Color
• Fauvism
• Cubism
• Assemblage
• Futurist View of a Horse
• Art:  A Reflection of Experiences
• Expressionism
• Mondrian’s Squares
• Calder’s Mobiles
• The Object and its Space
• Two Reactions to War
• Abstract Art gets Big
• Looking Outward
• Land Art
• Clay Modeling Today
• Sculpture Today
• Computer Art
• What Happened to Art after 1960?

Each Lesson begins with historical insight that will help your children open their eyes to the beauty of art in the past, therefore making art today more relevant to them.

At one of our Art Club sessions, I used the lesson:  Monet Studies Light.

This discusses how Money began painting during different times of day, weather and throughout the year.  He noticed that the light outside changed quickly and would impact the colors he used.  He quit mixing his paint colors leisurely, but began applying them hastily to his canvas.  The lesson continues to teach how Monet painted the Rouen Cathedral…in the early morning sunlight…and the way it looked during a mist.  It is truly beautiful…especially as you are able to view three different paintings from Monet’s Rouen Cathedral series…

I used this lesson because the trees have been changing color…and what a beautiful way to spend a day.

Now..the day we were having art club, the weather was not working with us…and we could not take the children outside….so, we had them think back to a few days earlier, when we had all ventured outside with our pastels to color the trees.

We asked the children to paint them…based on how they thought they would look at different times of the day…and we used water colors.  This lesson was based on their art lesson of painting a series….

I love the way they chose different times of day….can you look at the paintings and tell that one selected early morning, another mid day, one afternoon and the other….late in the day as the sun was dripping down into the horizon???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At home, we used more of their lessons to learn about:  Sculpting.  We began this lesson by reading about Edgar Degas and his ‘Fourteen-year old dancer’ sculpture.  I love the way Artistic Pursuits gives just enough information that the children enjoy it…with great facts that are intriguing…yet, it doesn’t go into overkill with too much information!

At First, we followed the directions…and sculpted a person (or people)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

then, the children made some sushi, other food…and penguins…..

We also created bowls out of string and glue!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Artistic Pursuits has all of your Art Curriculum covered from Preschool up through Highschool with their ten books. The price of each book is $42.95.  Now, that may seem like a LOT to many of us right now,  but compare that to an art class.  We recently attended an art studio…and it was $12 per child.  Only two of my children went…  With the book at $42.95, we can have art all year long.  Paying $12 for my children to attend…the two older children would not even be able to attend two lessons…for less than $44!!  (and I don’t have to pay for gas to get there)

Summing it up……Artistic Pursuits gives Homeschool families (actually any family) the freedom to engage their children’s creativity and inspire them right in their home……and guess what….the parents may just find some of their own hidden talents when they join in the fun!  My children love seeing the book being pulled off the shelf…and honestly, they have started pulling it off, as well.  They love both of our books and they have taken away my fear of art, I no longer seek perfection in art, but create to the best of my ability…and LOVE the joy and laughter that fills our homes as we sit and create using these books together!

So, take a look at the summary for their books below…and information regarding your own Art Supplies kit….Yes, again, Brenda Ellis and all at Artistic Pursuits have you covered in every way you can imagine!

• Preschool:  The Way They SEE it, a Book for Every Parent About the Art Children Make
  • Understand your child’s art:  Encourages awareness, exploration and creativity
  • 29 Projects
• Kindergarten, First, Second and Third Grade (three books)
  • Book 1:  An Introduction to the Visual Arts (Ancients – 1300s)
  • Book 2:  Stories of Artists and their Art (1200s – 1800s)
  • Book 3:  Modern Painting and Sculpture (1850s –  today)
    • All of these books are written to the student – No teacher preparation is needed
    • Full Color Text captures student’s interest and inspires their imagination as they create original work
    • 32 Projects in each book: painting, drawing, paper craft, clay, printmaking, sculpture…and MORE!)
• Fourth, Fifth and Sixth (two books)
  • Book 1:  Drawing Basics
  • Book 2:  Color Theory
    • Written to the student, no teacher preparation is needed
    • Two media presented in each book so students gain mastery with art materials
    • Full color text:  shows how art materials look
    • View American, European, and World art by the Great Masters and learn art history including artist biographies
    • 64 projects
• Junior High:  Seventh and Eight (two books)
  • Book 1:  Drawing Basics
  • Book 2:  Color Theory
    • Written to the student, no teacher preparation is needed
    • Two media presented in each book so students gain mastery with art materials
    • Full color text:  shows how art materials look
    • View American, European, and World art by the Great Masters and learn art history including artist biographies
    • 64 projects

• Highschool:  Ninth through Twelfth (two books)
  • Book 1:  Drawing Basics
  • Book 2:  Color Theory
    • Written to the student, no teacher preparation is needed
    • Two media presented in each book so students gain mastery with art materials
    • Full color text:  shows how art materials look
    • View American, European, and World art by the Great Masters and learn art history including artist biographies
    • 64 projects

 

Now, Artistic Pursuits has gone one step farther.  They did not just create a GREAT curriculum for you…they have also packaged up all of the art supplies you will need for each lesson!  The prices of the packages range from $45-$92 and are loaded with all of the art supplies you will need for each lesson book!

I hope you have enjoyed this review…I know it was long, but well worth it!  There are other reviews by others on the Old Schoolhouse Crew!  Take a peak at their great fun and art work…I’m sure you’ll be inspired!  Go HERE to read the other reviews!

 

 

 

 

**Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this Artistic Pursuits Curriculum book (not the kit) in exchange for my honest opinion, as a member of the Crew.  No other reimbursement was received.