ARTistic Pursuits, Grades K-3 Book One title

Introduction to the Visual Arts

by Brenda Ellis. Publisher: Artistic Pursuits Inc. Comb-binding, 88 pages, ISBN: 978-0-9815982-1-5, February 15, 2008 2nd Edition

List Price $42.95

Book description:

Age Level: 5 and up. 32 Lessons. This book is sure to delight young students with colorful illustrations and great Masters’ paintings and prints. Your child's creative efforts will flourish when you read one lesson per week. 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, and color.
• 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. Lessons expand the child's ideas of what art is and where we find it. Children explore mural, pottery, bookbinding, mosaic techniques, and more.

Artists Compose

Lesson One, Page One
The first page introduces the child to the concept of the lesson. Read the introduction page to the child. In this lesson children learn that artists put together things that they see. The exercise on this page is optional. It allows the child to express his or her ideas and make connections with the information. "My kids have already looked at (the book) and, with their highest compliment, declared it to be 'cool'. Exactly what I have been looking for in 10+ years of homeschooling." C.B., Homeschool Mom

Lesson One, Page Two
The topic is shown in a work of art by the masters. Read about the art to the child. Questions guide children in exploring the picture further while engaging them in a search that is enjoyable and opens their eyes to more information. Read the questions and allow the student to answer freely. Few answers are provided because the activity is not about getting the right answer, but about how much the child can see and what he or she thinks. "The discussion questions seem perfect for engaging such a young audience." - A.B., Homeschool Mom

CLICK THE PAGE TO READ THE CONTENT.

Lesson One, Page Three
The first paragraph invites the child to think about the ideas in the lesson and apply them to his or her own life observations. Read this to the child. Provide the art supplies. Allow the student to create an original work of art. This page includes information and illustrations on how to use the materials as new ones are introduced. Student Gallery shows how other children filled the assignment and inspire young artists. "The program seeks to teach children what art is, and encourages them to produce artwork. But it doesn’t force a child to reproduce adult art or to participate in boring, redundant activities. Especially at the younger level, we found the lessons were quick, simple, and interesting for the kids and parents."-M.M., Homeschool Mom

Art on Pots (Greek Pottery)

Lesson Twenty-four, Page One
Art is more than just a picture on a wall. Lessons in the art history section expand children's ideas about what art is and where we find it. Read the introduction of an ancient civilization to the child. "Mrs. Ellis uses a conversational style of writing that is so appealing to younger children, yet her curriculum never "talks down" to them nor does it go over their heads!" J.T. Homeschool Mom

Lesson Twenty-four, Page Two
Read about Greek art to the child as they look at a work by the masters. Read the questions about the artwork and allow the child to answer freely. Questions guide children to see more within the art. Upon closer view we find that the smiling face is a shield and that there are many creatures within the painting on this cup. "I love your approach to art history and that the children are getting a rich education through your materials!" H.K. Homeschool Mom

Lesson Twenty-four, Page Three
Read the first paragraph, which inspires students to create just like the culture they studied. The Project gives students an opportunity to try their hands at pottery using air-dry clay. They paint their pot just as the Greeks did. Provide the art supplies for the child. Allow the child to create from his or her own ideas. Four easy steps show children how to make a pinch pot and decorate it. Student work is shown throughout the book in the Student Gallery. "I love the fact that your program actually TEACHES art." T.C. Homeschool Mom

Materials Introduced: ebony pencils, pastel sticks, oil pastels, watercolor crayons, colored paper craft, self-hardening clay.

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)

K-3 Book One ISBN 978-0-9815982-1-5...made in the USA...Price: $42.95