ART EDUCATION

When there are budget problems in the school systems, art programs are often cut.
Do you want your children to have wonderful experiences in the art classroom?
Do you want your children to have the confidence to draw well?
Do you want your children to know something about art history and the great masters?
Do you want your children to enjoy visiting an art gallery?
Do you want your children to be able to recognize the works of the great master?


I. PICTURE BOOKS ABOUT GREAT ART AND
GREAT ARTISTS (PRE-K THROUGH GRADE 4)
Bijou, Bonbon, and Beau by Joan Sweeney (A story about Degas)
The Boy Who Loved to Draw: Benjamin West by Barbara Brenner
Camille and the Sunflowers by Laurence Anholt (A story about van Gogh)
Come Look with Me: Enjoying Art with Children by Gladys S. Blizzard
Dancing with Degas by Julie Merberg and Suzanne Bober
Degas and the Little Dancer by Laurence Anholt (A story about a famous statue)
Famous Children: da Vinci byAnn Rachlin
Famous Children: Michelangelo by Tony Hart
The First Starry Night by Joan Shaddox Isom
Georgia's Bones by Jen Bryant (A story about Georgia O'Keeffe)
Henri Matisse: Drawing with Scissors
In the Garden with van Gogh by Julie Merberg and Suzanne Bober
Katie Meets the Impressionists by James Mayhew
Katie and Mona Lisa by James Mayhew
Katie and the Sunflowers by James Mayhew ( A story about van Gogh)
Katie's Sunday Afternoon by James Mayhew (A story about Seurat)
Klimt and his cat by Berenice Capatti
Leonardo and the Flying Boy by Laurence Anholt
Magical Day with Matisse by Julie Merberg and Suzanne Bober
Magical Garden of Claude Monet by Laurence Anholt
Matisse: The King of Color by Laurence Anholt
Picasso and the Girl with a ponytail by Laurence Anholt
Picnic with Monet by Julie Merberg and Suzanne Bober
Sharing with Renoir by Julie Merberg and Suzanne Bober
Sunday with Seurat by Julie Merberg and Suzanne Bober
Suzette and the Puppy: A Story about Mary Cassatt by Joan Sweeney
Tigers and Sails and ABC Tales by Malcolm Cormack
van Gogh and the Sunflowers by Laurence Anholt


II. ART FUN!
This book is by North Light Books; Kim Solga is the editor. It is a fantastic book of art projects as follows: painting with tempera paints, drawing, making prints, sculptures, and paint adventures. I highly recommend this book! Visit your favorite hobby and craft shops, as well as the big box stores to gather: fingerpaint, watercolors, facepaint, tempera or poster paint, colored construction paper, white computer paper, blunt scissors, glue, tape, colored pencils, markers, and other materials. Remember to check labels carefully for the word WASHABLE.


III. DRAWING WITH CHILDREN BY MONA BROOKS
Why do we assume that all children can learn to print and write cursive, yet we believe only the chosen few can draw? This book will convince you otherwise. Pay particular attention to the captions. Most of the pictures are drawn by children and their ages are given in the captions. The drawing of the sailing vessel is incredible. Be sure to note the age of the child who drew it.
This book will allow you to teach your child to draw birds, horses, tigers, frogs, people, ships, and more. The technique are easy and effective.

The following books are suggested as references to be used with this book:
Pages 75-79 Tico and the Golden Wings by Leo Lionni
Pages 99- 106 Zoobooks: Parrots and Amazing Birds of the Rain Forest
Pages 106-112 A Field Full of Horses
Pages 230-233 Who is the Beast by Keith Baker, The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry, Zoobooks: Tigers, Tiger Tales and Big Cat Stories, and Tiger by Judy Allen which is out of print.
Pages 240-243 Mama, Do you love me? and Ka-ha-si and the Loon, an Eskimo (Inuit) Legend which is also out of print
Another multicultural lesson could be based upon: Ashanti to Zulu, African Traditions
Pages 246-248 The Umbrella by Jan Brett (A story about the rain forest, look for the tree frogs); First Thousand Words in French; and A Walk in the Rain Forest which is also out of print.
Pages 248-252 How I Became a Pirate; Boats and Ships of Rhode Island (page 13); and Ships and How to Draw Them which is out of print.


IV. HOW TO TEACH ART TO CHILDREN
BY JOY EVANS AND JO ELLEN MOORE
A. Part One: Learning About the [7] Elements of Art (Line, Shape, Color, Value, Texture, Form, and Space) . Recommended References are listed below:
For Color: Owl Moon by Jane Yolen and Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott
For Value: Black and White by David Macaulay
For Texture: Alexander and the Wind-up Mouse by Leo Lionni


B. Part Two: Using the Elements of Art (This section focuses on 24 famous artists or cultures.) References for each chapter are listed below.

1. Twittering Machines: Paul Klee - Getting to Know Paul Klee by Mike Venezia

2. Prints: Piet Mondrian - Mondrian by Susanne Deicher

3. Sunflowers: Vincent van Gogh - Getting to Know van Gogh by Mike Venezia, van Gogh by Dieter Beaujean; Famous Artists: van Gogh by Andrew Hughes; Camille and the Sunflowers: A Story about Vincent van Gogh by Laurence Anholt; Vincent van Gogh Sunflowers and Swirly Stars by Brad Bucks and Joan Holub; and The First Starry Night by Joan Shaddox Isom

4. Clay Cartouches: Ancient Egyptians - Fun with Hieroglyphs by Catharine Roehrig

5. Adinkra Cloth: Ashanti Peoples - Ashanti to Zulu African Art; African Designs from Traditional Sources by Geoffrey Williams; and African Designs Coloring Book by Gregory Mirow

6. Pop-up Collage Cards: Henri Matisse - A Bird or Two: A Story about Henri Matisse by Bijou Le Tord and Famous Artists: Matisse by Antony Mason

7. Drawing an Invention: Leonardo da Vinci - Getting to Know da Vinci by Mike Venezia; Leonardo da Vinci by Diane Stanley; and Leonardo and the Flying Boy by Laurence Anholt

8. Circus Mobiles: Alexander Calder - Calder by Jacob Baal-Teshuva

9. Ballerina Paintings: Degas - Paintings that Dance by Kristin N. Cole; Degas and the Dance by Susan Rubin; Degas by Linda Bolton; and Getting to Know Degas by Mike Venezia

10. Accordion Books: Chinese bookmakers - Behold ... the Dragon! by Gail Gibbons

11. Story Quilts: Faith Ringgold - Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold

12. Still Lifes: Paul Cezanne - Getting to Know Cezanne by Mike Venezia and Famous Artists: Cezanne by Antony Mason; and Cezanne by Richard Kendall

13. Pattern Portraits: Henri Matisse - A Bird or Two: A Story about Henri Matisse by Bijou Le Tord and Famous Artists: Matisse by Antony Mason

14. Musician Collages: Pablo Picasso - Getting to Know Picasso by Mike Venezia; Famous Artists: Picasso by Antony Mason; Pablo Picasso: Breaking all the Rules by True Kelly; and Picasso by Ingo F. Walther

15. Black-and-White Pottery - The Lost World of the Anasazi by Peter Lourie

16. Tessellations: M.C. Escher - M.C. Escher, Visions of Symmetry by Doris Schattschneider

17. Pop Art Sculptures: Claes Oldenburg - Bottle of Notes Claes Oldenburg by Richard Cork

18. Bark Paintings: Australian Aborigines - Aboriginal Art of Australia by Carol Finley

19. Mosaics: Roman Tile Workers - The Complete Mosaic Handbook by Sarah Kelly

20. Flowers: Georgia O'Keeffe - Georgia O'Keeffe by Nancy Frazier and Getting to Know O'Keeffee by Mike Venezia

21. Pop Art Food Posters: Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein - Getting to Know Warhol by Mike Venezia and Getting to Know Lichtenstein

22. Self-portraits: Vincent van Gogh - van Gogh by Dieter Beaujean (see others listed above)

23. Rock Art: Prehistoric Peoples - Stories in Stone Rock Art Pictures by Early Americans by Caroline Arnold

24. Gargoyles: Medieval Architects and Builders - Holy Terrors Gargoyles on Medieval Buildings by Janetta Rebold Benton


V. DISCOVERING ART
This program was developed by the Calvert School in Maryland. It is intended to be used in the lower elementary grades, but can be repeated every few years. There are 32 lessons. It is a one year course, but certainly homeschoolers are not limited by school schedules. Students will learn about the 7 elements of art. They will not only create a variety of art projects, but learn something about art history. The Logos School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania uses this curriculum and Veritas Press which is associated with the Logos School sells the materials.

In addition to references already listed above the following would be useful with this curriculum:

Degas and the Dance: The Man Behind the Easel DVD from Devine Entertainment
Goya: Awakened in a Dream DVD from Devine Entertainment
Mary Cassatt: A Brush with Independence DVD from Devine Entertainment
Monet: Shadows and Light DVD from Devine Entertainment
Rembrandt: Fathers and Sons DVD from Devine Entertainment
Winslow Homer: An American Original DVD from Devine Entertainment
These DVD from Devine are intended specifically to introduce children to the great masters. There is one teachers' guide for the artists' specials.

Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel V.I.E.W. VIDEO. This is perfect for those who can't actually visit the Sistine Chapel.

Museum Guide: American Art by Ruthie Knupp and Janice Lehmberg
Museum Guide: Egyptian Art by Ruthie Knupp and Janice Lehmberg
Museum Guide: Greek and Roman Art by Ruthie Knupp and Janice Lehmberg

Getting to Know: Botticelli by Mike Venezia
Getting to Know: Pieter Bruegel by Mike Venezia
Getting to Know: Mary Cassatt by Mike Venezia
Getting to Know: Salvador Dali by Mike Venezia
Getting to Know: El Greco by Mike Venezia
Getting to Know: Giotto by Mike Venezia
Getting to Know: Winslow Homer by Mike Venezia
Getting to Know: Frida Kahlo by Mike Venezia
Getting to Know: Michelangelo by Mike Venezia
Getting to Know: Monet by Mike Venezia
Getting to Know: Grandma Moses by Mike Venezia
Getting to Know: Raphael by Mike Venezia
Getting to Know: Rembrandt by Mike Venezia
Getting to Know: Frederic Remington by Mike Venezia
Getting to Know: Pierre Auguste Renoir by Mike Venezia
Getting to Know: Henri Rousseau by Mike Venezia
Getting to Know: Georges Seurat by Mike Venezia
Getting to Know: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec by Mike Venezia
Getting to Know: Diego Velazquez by Mike Venezia
Getting to Know: Johannes Vermeer by Mike Venezia

Famous Artists: Michelangelo by Jen Green (BARRON'S)
Famous Artists: Monet by Antony Mason (BARRON'S)

History and Technique of Great Masters: Bruegel by Penelope Le Fanu Hughes
History and Technique of Great Masters: Gaugin by Linda Bolton
History and Technique of Great Masters: Goya by Michael Howard
History and Technique of Great Masters: Manet by Linda Bolton
History and Technique of Great Masters: Rembrandt by Andrew Morrall
History and Technique of Great Masters: Renoir by Guy Jennings
History and Technique of Great Masters: Toulouse-Lautrec by Christopher Ackroyd
History and Technique of Great Masters: Turner by William Hardy
History and Technique of Great Masters: Whistler by Michael Howard

Activity Pack: Cezanne by Mila Boutan
Activity Pack: Degas by Mila Boutan
Activity Pack: Matisse by Mila Boutan
Activity Pack: Monet by Mila Boutan
Activity Pack: Picasso by Mila Boutan
Activity Pack: Renoir by Mila Boutan
Activity Pack: van Gogh by Mila Boutan

Smart About - Mary Cassatt: Family Pictures by Jane O'Connor
Smart About - Frida Kahlo: The Artist who Painted Herself by Margaret Frith
Smart About - Claude Monet: Sunshine and Waterlilies by Steven Packard
Smart About - Pierre Auguste Renoir: Paintings that Smile by True Kelley

Ansel Adams by Barry Pritzker
Mary Cassatt by Sophia Craze
Georgia O'Keeffe by Nancy Frazier
Grandma Moses, An American Original by William C. Ketchum, Jr.
The Story of Sculpture from Prehistory to the Present by Francesca Romei
Leonardo by Frank Zollner
Michelangelo by Gilles Neret
Monet by Birgit Zeidler
Renoir by Peter H. Feist
Cezanne by himself, editor Richard Kendall
Gaugin by himself, editor Belinda Thomson
Manet by himself, editor Juliet Wilson Bareau
Monet by himself, editor Richard Kendall
Vincent by himself, editor Bruce Bernard
Vermeer by Norbert Schneider
Gustav Klimt by Gilles Neret
Rousseau by Cornelia Stabenow
Rodin by Gilles Neret

The Annotated Mona Lisa by Carol Strickland
The Art Book for Children (PHAIDON PUB)
Art Fraud Detective by Anna Nilsen
The Art Gallery Faces by Philip Wilkinson
Art Auction Mystery by Anna Nilsen
Artist of the Reformation, The Story of Albrecht Durer by Joyce McPherson
Artists and their Art by Michael Medearis
A Boy Named Giotto by Paolo Guarnieri
Dan's Angel by Alexander Sturgic
DK Eyewitness Books: Goya by Patricia Wright
DK Eyewitness Books: Renaissance with Medieval History
The Great Art Scandal by Anna Nilson
Discovering Great Artists by MaryAnn F. Kohl and Kim Solga
The History of Art from Ancient to Modern Times by Claudio Merlo
History of Art for Young People by H.W. Jansen and Anthony F. Jansen
Jackson Pollack by Leonie Bennett
Leonardo da Vinci for KIDS by Janis Herbert
Leonardo's Horse by Jean Fritz
Lives of the Artists by Kathleen Krull
Monet and the Impressionists for KIDS by Carol Sabbeth
Linnea in Monet's Garden by Christina Bjork
Charlotte in Giverny by Joan MacPhail Knight
Peanuts: A Golden Celebration by Charles Schulz
Renaissance: The Invention of Perspective by Lillio Canto
USBORNE: The Children's Book of Art by Rosie Dickens


VI. FURTHER DRAWING LESSONS
I Can Draw Cars and Trucks by Terry Longhurst
I Can Draw Creepy Crawlies by Terry Longhurst
I Can Draw Dinosaurs by Terry Longhurst
I Can Draw Flying Machines by Terry Longhurst
I Can Draw On the Farm by Terry Longhurst
I Can Draw People by Terry Longhurst
I Can Draw Sharks, Whales, and Dolphins by Terry Longhurst
I Can Draw Wild Animals by Terry Longhurst

How to Draw ANYTHING - The Complete Guide by Angela Gair
How to Draw Birds by John Green
How to Draw Forest Animals by Barbara Soloff Levy
How to Draw People (Usborne) by Alastair Smith
How to Draw 1 by Walter Foster
How to Draw 2 by Walter Foster
Animals by Walter Foster
Landscapes with Gene Franks
Still Lifes with Gene Franks
Cartooning for Kids by Mike Artell


VII. ART GALLERIES AND ART MUSEUMS
Do you live near one of the following?
National Gallery of Art in Washington, D. C.
Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D. C.
Museum of Modern Art in New York City
Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City
Philadelphia Musem of Art
Seattle Art Museum
Denver Art Museum

If not, you probably do live near some other art gallery or art museum. When my niece was just 5 years old, she already knew who Jackson Pollack and Alexander Calder were and she could recognize their work. Her kindergarten class had a field trip to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D. C. Consider such a trip. Also, though most of us can not afford original art, be sure to visit the gift shop. Many art galleries and museums, including the National Gallery of Art, sell poster and postcards of the great works.