Review: ARTistic Pursuits

I have always convinced myself that the ONE subject that I could do without any formal book was art.  I can handle a few craft projects every now and again, right? Perhaps this is because when it comes to buying curriculum, by the time the 4 R's are covered, along with a few other essentials like history and science, the school book money envelope has long since gone empty.  Well, though I managed to sneak a few art projects in every now and again, they were certainly fly by the seat of my pants and certainly not with any regularity.  And in truth, I really didn't know what I was doing when I WAS doing them.  Then, I had the chance to review an art curriculum designed for homeschoolers called ARTistic Pursuits.  I can see now that 'fly by the seat of your pants' isn't the most conducive homeschool strategy for any subject...ART included.

Pinch Pots!  Oh boy, did they love working with clay!

Our barns~ by Andrew!! :-)  ~age 8

The book I received was ARTistic Pursuits Book 1: Introduction to the Visual Arts; designed for Early Elementary Grades K-3.  In it were 36 lessons, each written in thoughtful, clear and simple terms which, when read aloud lasted about 5-10 minutes.  Because I have four children who ALL love to do art, I read the lesson aloud to the table of eager listeners.  The lessons were so clear and easy to follow, though, that a student capable of reading could very easily work independently. 

A smug gal by Adele'~ age 5

Judah with his pocketknife (of course) by Judah~ age 3

Each lesson spoke of the different ways 'Artists See and Do' and encouraged the student to act like an artist by replicating them.  Also included in each lesson were historical examples of famous works to study and enjoy.    I loved that they included these, especially, given my fondness for Great Works.  And of course, each lesson included a project.  While the presented lesson encouraged students to replicate the methods and techniques of artists, it never asked the student to duplicate the concept exactly, but to use the concepts to make their own unique and individual art.  Each of the four eager listeners (and maybe their Mama, too....shhhh!) produced four (okay, five) completely separate works of art as a result.

OKay, so this is disturbing, I know.  But the boy has a one track mind, I tell you and with Penny going to deliver in just a few short months, there is nothing to be done about it.  By Andrew~ age 8

By Corynn (with a heart, like Mama)~ age 10

In order to get an overall idea of the book (and because that's how I roll!) we skipped around the different lessons (which do not need to be given in any particular order) to do lessons using a variety of different mediums.  We used pencils for pencil sketches, markers, watercolor pencils, paint, soft pastels and clay.  I just got the oil pastels to do next weeks' lesson and recently caught the children salivating over the spankin' new box. 

Sunshine Bunny by Andrew 

Spotted Bunny by Corynn

Bunny with a flower by Adele'

Blue Bunny by Judah

Other Artistic Pursuit books available for Early Elementary K-3 are Book 2: Stories of Artists and Their Art (K-3) (This one looks so cool!) and Book 3: Modern Painting and Sculpture.  For Elementary age grades 4-5 there is Book 1: The Elements of Art and Composition and Book 2: Color and Composition.  They also have a Preschool Book and (hot off the presses!) some incredible looking books on Sculpture, geared for ages 11- 18. Check them out!

Each book is $47.95 and can be used for all your students (throughout your whole homeschooling career!) since all the projects are done outside of the book.