Of Art and Artists and Artistic Pursuits: {A Review}

If you've been with us long, you know that we love art. We spend some time every week working on an art project and that includes me. I believe in learning right along side my kiddos.

So when we received the brand new, expanded and revised
Elementary 4-5 Book One: The Elements of Art and Composition
from ARTistic Pursuits to review, I was ready to dive in with the girls. 

 

Although it is recommended for ages 9 and up, Jo-Jo also worked with Ceesa and I. Each book is non-consumable and spiral bound (soft cover with a transparent cover). The curriculum focuses on art vocabulary, observation of your environment and art work, creative exercises, and technique. An added bonus for us is the historical information that is included with the art work providing the context for the art work.

 

To make it super easy, you can order art supply packs with everything you need ready to go. We had much of what we needed for the first 2 units (drawing paper, vinyl eraser, and ebony drawing pencils).

Ceesa working on unit 1 lesson 3.

We completed a lesson twice a week. I simply read the information and we went to work. It is clearly laid out and easy to follow, so your child could read it with very little support from you. Ceesa is very creative. Whenever I give her an assignment, she automatically makes hers different, adds something to it, or takes it a completely different direction than I had anticipated. Something we especially like about this particular art curriculum is it tells the student to choose the subject.

Unit 1 Lesson 1 Art Work

Momma

Ceesa

Jo-Jo

Unit 1 Lesson 2 Art Work

Jo-Jo

Ceesa (inspired by Bach)

Unit 1 Lesson 3 Art Work Vertical

Jo-Jo

Ceesa

Momma

Unit 1 Lesson 3 Art Work Horizontal 

Jo-Jo

Momma

Ceesa

Unit 1 Lesson 4 Art Work

Jo-Jo

Ceesa

Momma

Unit 2 Lesson 1 Art Work

Momma

Ceesa

Jo-Jo

Unit 2 Lesson 2 Art Work

In the Kitchen by Ceesa

Jo-Jo

Momma

Unit 2 Lesson 3 Art Work

Jo-Jo

Ceesa

Momma

Unit 2 Lesson 4 Art Work

Jo-Jo

Ceesa

Another component we especially like is that the curriculum uses works by artists to show examples. We spend a lot of time observing art at home (we study a new artist every term) and at local art museums. In fact, Ceesa's birthday is coming up soon and she's asked for her present from us to be a trip to an art museum. She especially wants to go to one with work by Mary Cassatt. Her delight in the curriculum was complete when she saw that there was art work by an artist she knew.

Next week, we are moving on to texture. I am really excited to get started.

Ceesa (Inspired by Washington Crossing the Delaware from lesson 2)

ARTistic Pursuits Elementary 4-5 is Newly Expanded and Revised ($47.95).

   

Disclaimer:  I received the book through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.