TOS Review: Artistic Pursuits

I can't wait to tell you about Artistic Pursuits.  I think I just may be in love!

Artisitc Pursuits is an art curriciulum designed specifically for homeschoolers.  It uses fun art lessons to "teach both the expressive and technical aspects of art while allowing children to make choices about what and how they will draw, paint, and sculpt."

There are books for preschoolers, and elementary school students, as well as books for middle and high school students.  Each level focuses on a different concept of art and teaches through a different approach.  For instance, the preschool level aims to encourage exploration of art materials and the world.  The focus of the elementary level program is art instruction through hands-on art projects and art history.  The middle  and high school levels provide more technical drawing and painting instruction using artists and art history.

For this review we received a copy of Artistic Pursuits Grades K-3 Book One.

The book is broken down into three sections: what artists do, what artists see, and where we find art.  There are 32 lessons, each with a corresponding work of art to view and discuss and a project for the student to complete.  The lessons are so easy for me to present.  Both Little M and Ms. Q are participating so what we do is get comfy on the couch and read the lesson together.  I ask them a few questions and then we look at the work of art.  We then discuss the piece and I ask the kids some of the discussion questions listed in the book.  The next page of the lesson is the project.  This is where the fun really starts.  The kids get to create their own piece of art using the skill or idea discussed in the lesson and viewed in the masterpiece. They have really had a lot of fun with these projects.  We decided to go with the K-3 level so that Little M can learn too.  They are really enjoying doing projects together and so far they have composed a still life, painted from their imagination, sketched an observation in the backyard, and drawn pictures that "talk."  I can't wait to see what they will create next.

You can see samples of Artistic Pursuits Grades K-3, Book One HERE.  K-3,  Book One book costs $42.95.  The books are non-consumable so you can reuse these for all of your children!  The art materials needed vary depending on the book however you can see a list of the supplies necessary on the Artistic Pursuits website.  Materials are available for purchase through the website and materials are commercially available at the majority of craft and art supplies stores as well.

To see what other TOS Crew members had to say, or to see a review of a book of a different level, check out the TOS Homeschool Crew BLOG.

Enjoy!

Disclosure: As a member of the 2011-2012 The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Homeschool Crew, I was provided this product for free in exchange for my review.  No other compensation was given and this review reflects my honest opinion.