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Showing posts with label Art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Art. Show all posts

Monday, November 5, 2018

November 05, 2018

Create Your Own Starry Night Masterpiece {A Review}

Would your child enjoy creating artwork inspired by a maser artist using simple tools and techniques?


Some links which follow are affiliate links.


Kidzaw.com makes creating such masterpieces easy with its Master Kitz The Starry Night.

My Daughter - the Test Artist




We ordered our 
Master Kitz The Starry Night  for review with thanks to Kidzaw.com, and my daughter enjoyed testing it out.




After reading the packaging and playing with the fun magnet closure on the box, we laid all of the enclosed materials out, having to hold down the paper and stencil that wanted to keep rolling up.



Then, after putting brown paper on the table and taping the provided art paper down, my daughter got right to work, following the easy included instructions.



She placed removable adhesive star masks down on the top of her paper and, then, began rolling on blue acrylic paint with a special textured roller.



She, then, went, to layer on the white according to the instructions, but was not happy with how the paints blended to make a lighter blue, leaving no distinct white. So, she paused to let the blue paint dry a bit while I washed the roller.  Then, she continued the project, painting on the white, before taking off the star masking stickers.



At that point, my daughter took another break before taping the flattened but rolling stencil onto her artwork and painting on the black paint using a foam roller.



During another extended pause to let things dry,
 we read the enclosed background information on Van Gogh with her little brother, chatting about what we read, looking at the images, and connecting to our past art studies. 



Then, my daughter got to work with the included oil pastels.

She was not thrilled by the lack of colors among the pastels, but I asked her to work just with the ones that came with the kit.



After that, she asked if she could add a bit more color using our own oil pastels, and, of course, I said, "yes". For my daughter, as the artist, had every right to want to create her artwork to her liking, I felt, as long as she, first, honored the review by using only included materials - which she had.



So, my daughter added a bit more color and called the project done.



Her little brother then asked if could use the other art paper that came with the kit to make his own artwork another day.  of course, my daughter and I said, he could. My daughter also said she wants to use the textured roller again herself. I have no doubt all my children will be using the roller and kit pieces again!

My Daughter's Thoughts

After my daughter completed her artwork, I asked her for her opinion of Master Kitz The Starry Night.  She said:
This kit makes people feel like they can create great art simply.
The materials themselves are good and the packaging looks cool.  I like how the box closes with a magnet, but when you take out the paper and the stencil, they are all rolled up and hard to work with.  So, you have to tape everything down a lot and, then, your art's corners are white.  
I also felt like I couldn't get the swirl in very well, so I probably will go over it with a paintbrush next time or explore with the roller tool more. 
I would also like a teeny bit more colors with the pastels - like maybe red, so we would have all the primary colors - and I feel like the paper should be a light yellow like pictured on the box and in the directions.
Besides those little things, it was pretty good. I had fun trying it and will use the kit again 
There is another piece of paper and the rollers can be used over and over again. My favorite roller was the one that makes the squiggly lines in the sky.  I want to use it to paint wrapping paper and skies.
I would recommend this kit to others.  As it says on the package, 'ages 5-105'.  That's true, but it may be a bit hard for a 105 year old depending on their shape.
I agree with my daughter: Master Kitz The Starry Night is simple to use and can be enjoyed by all ages!  If you'd like an easy art project with reusable tools and a bi of art history included, too, Master Kitz could be for you!

Sunday, October 14, 2018

October 14, 2018

Create Art and Pray for All Souls

Do you have creative kids?  Have you lost a loved one?  Then, this idea is for you!



Make a calendar to remind you to pray daily for our beloved dead.


It's super easy to do.





Simply create an image that reminds you of November, and, then, glue it and a calendar grid onto a piece of cardstock.




You may also want to expand this art project into a full lesson, teaching (or reminding) your children about All Souls Day, the monthly dedication to pray for the dead, opportunities to help the dearly departed through gaining an indulgence for them, pairing your project with Eternal Rest copywork or with a STEAM design challenge.


Or you can make it into an art, faith, and poetry lesson as we did this past week in our Art, Music, and Poetry club.


{Some links which follow are affiliate ones.}
 
We began our club with a brief prayer, and, then, got right into reading about Paul, Jean, and Herman Limbourg in Artists that Shaped the Renaissance.


After chatting briefly about the Limbourg brothers, the time in which they lived, and their art, we did a picture study of Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, October, a beautiful artistic work created by the Limbourg brothers between 1412 and 1416 as a part of a Book of Hours.



The children were wowed by the detail within the reproduction on page 19 of
Artists that Shaped the Renaissance.


Then, we looked at a modern Liturgy of the Hours book, chatting about what it is and how it is used before pausing to read a portion of it. 

We read and briefly discussed a psalm, asking the children what stood out to them in the psalm, both in terms of poetic devices and from the perspective of being Christians listening to the Living Word.


Finally, we adapted the art project for Lesson 4 in Artists that Shaped the Renaissance in order to create watercolor paintings of things that remind us of November using watercolor pencils and regular watercolors.


When each of our paintings was completed, we affixed it to a piece of black cardstock and, then, cut out a blank monthly calendar grid to attach below it.


Viola!


Individual calendar pages to be used throughout November to pray for our beloved dead.


Now, we're jotting down names of our dearly departed to pray for on each day of November.  If you'd like us to add the name of your beloved dead to our prayer calendar, please just let us know

Here are a few more snapshots of our lesson time:





Also feel free to browse our other All Souls related posts.


 Take a Few Minutes of Your Day to Help Holy Souls

 Pray for All Souls with FREE Eternal Rest Grant unto Them Copywork Printable in English and Latin
 
 Try a Design Challenge for All Saints and All Souls Days

 5 Ways Children Can Live in Faith for All Souls
 
 Please Join Us in Praying for the Dearly Departed

 A Simple Activity for All Souls Day -- Or Any Day You Want to Pray with Children for the Faithful Departed
 
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let the perpetual light shine upon them. And may the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

June 13, 2018

Create (and Study!) Art Based with Inspiration from the Italian Renaissance! {A Review}




Our family had never heard of 
ARTistic Pursuits Inc. until we were offered a chance to review one of their fantastic homeschool art curriculum books a few years ago, whereupon we became big fans of how author Brenda Ellis presents art for children and have since recommended ARTistic Pursuits Inc. to many folks in person and online.  Thus, we were delighted with an opportunity to review one of the books in ARTistic Pursuits Inc. new series: ARTistic Pursuits Art Instruction Books with DVD and Blu-RayVolume 4: Artists that Shaped the Italian Renaissance.

What is Artists that Shaped the Italian Renaissance? 




Artists that Shaped the Italian Renaissance
is Volume 4 of a grades K-3 art curriculum that comes as a beautiful 64-page, hardcover book with two pockets in the inside front cover to house a DVD and a Blu-Ray disc with video lessons on them.  

The book contains 18 projects that feature master works in 12 text lessons and 6 video lessons.  It also includes:
  • a list of all materials you will need for included projects (all of which many homschoolers already have at home or can easily get at an arts-n-crafts store)
  • some words about "Teaching Simply", which this book truly allows parents - even parents without an art background - to do
  • a brief introduction of the Italian Renaissance
  • clearly written objectives for each lesson
  • a bibliograpy and art credits for those who would like to dig deeper

Artists featured in the book are:

  • Cimabue
  • Giotti
  • Limbourg
  • Van Eyck
  • Ghirlandaio
  • Leonardo da Vinci
  • Botticelli
  • Michelangelo
  • Raphael
  • Sofonisba
  • Bachiacca
  • Parmigianino

Art skills practiced include:

  • handling a watercolor brush and paint
  • using elements of gold in paintings
  • featuring physical gestures in art
  • communicating through symbols
  • using wash and lift techniques
  • using of foreground and background
  • making resists with oil pastels and watercolor washes
  • creating an a fresco painting
  • using the rubbing technique to explore textures
  • creating collagraphs
  • making scratch art
  • creating portraits and landscapes
  • engraving

Throughout Artists that Shaped the Italian Renaissance, teacher Brenda Ellis guides children (and parents!) in both text and video lessons to handle art media, study art masters and their artworks, and get creative making original artworks.  

In the video lessons, Ariel Holcomb, an engaging video host, helps draw students into projects, while Brenda Ellis' hands are shown demonstrating how to create art.

Together, the text and video serve as a complete art curriculum which includes:

  • art history
  • picture study
  • colorful illutations
  • artworks by great Italian Masters
  • visual instruction for projects - either on the DVD/Blue-Ray discs or with text and images in the book
  • and, best of all, ease and engagement!  

Seriously, I am not art-gifted and this curriculum makes teaching and learning art alongside my children so easy!



How We Used Artists that Shaped the Italian Renaissance


Because the format of Artists that Shaped the Italian Renaissance is so inviting, before I even presented any of the lessons in it to my children, I found them paging through the beautiful hardcover book, browsing illustrations and artwork in it, doing informal picture studies, and even "reading ahead".  This became one of the ways we continued to use the book - as pleasure reading and informal study - a perfect dovetail to prior history lessons and invitation to focus on beauty!

The second way we used the curriculum, of course, as as intended: by gathering together to read, watch the DVD, complete readings and picture studies, and create art.




As we have an existing Art-Music-Poetry club, we also invited friends to join us in doing some of the introductory projects since my children asked if they could tart the book with friends, and these projects became our favorites - because, of course, everything is better with friends (in my children's minds, at least.)

Our friends told me they enjoyed the lessons they did with us, too, and, after talking about them with another local homeschool mom, I saw her Facebook post online about her curriculum for next year and guess what is included?  
ARTistic Pursuits!  People that I know who have used or just seen the ARTistic Pursuits curriculum agree it is of high quality!


What My Children Thought


My daughter, at almost 11, is above the intended age group for Artists that Shaped the Italian Renaissance, still quite enjoys it.   She said:

I like how big the picture study pictures are, because you can really get a feel for the art work in them.  I also like how the author tells a story before asking questions.  It helps me understand the pictures better.
I also liked the video lessons. They are not too long, but not too short.  They give you tips.
I also like the projects.  They are not too similar, but not too different.  Each one helps me focus on specific skill.
I would recommend this book for family classes.


I agree with everything my daughter said and would like to highlight how wonderful the picture studies in this book are.  Prior curricula we've reviewed for ARTistic Pursuits Inc. had wonderful picture study, too, but, the format of these books makes picture study even better - the large reproductions are so inviting!



My youngest son, at almost 8 and "ideal age" for this K-3 curriculum, is not as much of an art lover as his sister and I am, but still likes 
Artists that Shaped the Italian Renaissance.  He said:

We have been using Artists that Shaped the Italian Renaissance.  We have not done the fresco yet, but I like the picture of the plane on page 38 and want to do it.

I also like the picture study on page 47.  It is of St. George killing the dragon. 


So far, I liked the "gold leaf" project the best.  I liked using the metallic colors in my artwork.  It was easy to do. 
I remember that the artist tilted head in the picture study to make the figures look more lifelike. 
I would recommend this book to young artists!

I just love how 
Artists that Shaped the Italian Renaissance has invited him in with engaging picture studies and illustrations and has him looking forward to more projects!



My oldest, at 12, is obviously "old" for Artists that Shaped the Italian Renaissance, but still happily joined us in lessons.  He said:

I liked this book and video lesson set, especially when we used it with our friends at our Art, Music, and Poetry club.  The book includes art projects, stories about Renaissance artists, and examples of fine art and children's projects.  The DVD contains video art lessons, but not of every project. 


My favorite project so far was the "gold leaf" one.  I liked how the artwork came out - especially my sister's!
During the first lesson, I practiced taking off color when painting with water colors.  That was interesting. 
I also like the picture studies on pages 31, 32, and 34.  They look realistic. 

I would recommend this book to people who want to learn about the Italian Renaissance artwork.

Obviously, all three of my children and I like Artists that Shaped the Italian Renaissance quite well.  So far, in using the book and video lessons I have had no complaints save one: The way the plastic disc pockets on the inside cover are designed, we often find when we are carrying the book from one place to another, the top disc falls out. Worried that the falling disc would be ruined, we finally just made sure the top disc is the Blu-ray one since we have no way to play that, keeping our DVD disc safe and sound for use!


Overall, we are quite pleased with Artists that Shaped the Italian Renaissance and have and will continue to recommend it to others as a stand-alone art curriculum or as an excellent, hands-on supplement to history studies!

We would also love to see the rest of this 8 volume 
ARTistic Pursuits Art Instruction Books with DVD and Blu-Ray which includes four volumes that were reviewed by 60 Homeschool Crew Review families:


Find all the reviews!


Learn More


 ARTistic Pursuits

You can learn more about:

  • Art for Children, Building a Visual Vocabulary
  • Art of the Ancients
  • Art of the Middle Ages
  • Artists that Shaped the Italian Renaissance

in the Crew’s reviews and follow ARTistic Pursuits Inc. on Facebook.

You might also enjoy our prior reviews:


An Open-and-Go Art Curriculum We're Thoroughly Enjoying {A Review}

One Resource that Will Help You Enjoy Art Anywhere {A Review}

Sculpture Made Easy