Review: ARTistic Pursuits Inc.

Art has become one of Issac's favorite subjects. His older sister has dabbled in some drawing in her time, but last year he took a shining to watching her draw and decided he loved art too! Most of the time he just draws items without really having a knowledge of how to use any specific supplies to create different looks. He's been happy with that up until this point. I knew when I saw ARTistic Pursuits Inc. up for review that we had to do it. It seemed like a fun way to do art as we are ending our school year.  We had the choice of several of their books, but ultimately I decided to chose the first book in the series ARTistic Pursuits Art Instruction Books with DVD and Blu-Ray . Art for Children , Building a Visual Vocabulary is the first book in the series and I just felt that would be a good starting place for Issac. It would help him build confidence with his use of the materials and his drawing as well as have him learn to follow the instructions from the videos. 

Our aim with this product was to do one lesson a week. I honestly thought we'd do more because usually once the kids get back into art they want to do it several times over the week. ARTistic Pursuits Art Instruction Books with DVD and Blu-Ray is recommended for grades K-3, but with any curriculum you can adjust things to fit your family. When we received our book in the mail I was very pleased with the quality from the start.  It's a hardcover book with protective sleeves on the inside for the dvd & Blu-ray disks.  There are 18 lessons in this edition.  Of those lessons 6 are video lessons. The video lesson introduces the new concept and then there are a few lessons to work with that concept.
Lesson 1: Video #1 Watercolor Crayons Lesson 2: Artists Compose-The Courtyard of a House in Delft by DeHooch Lesson 3: Artists Imagine-The Birthday by Chagall Lesson 4: Video #2 Identify and Mix Colors Lesson 5: Artists Observe-In Flander's Field by Vonnoh Lesson 6: Artists Communicate-The Christening Feast by Steen Lesson 7: Video #3 Construction Paper: Cut Lesson 8: Artists See Shapes-Flower Day by Rivera Lesson 9: Video #4 Construction Paper: Fold Lesson 10: Artists See Form-Boy with Bagpipes and Young Bear (artist unknown) Lesson 11: Video #5 Oil Pastels Lesson 12: Artists See Texture-The Sunflower by Klimt Lesson 13: Artists See Landscapes-Monte Sainte-Victoire by Cezanne Lesson 14: Artists See Still Lifes-Still Life with coffeepot by Van Gogh Lesson 15: Video #6 Draw Shapes Lesson 16: Artists See Animals-Sentinel of the Plains by Dunton Lesson 17: Artists See Figures-Blue Dancers by Degas Lesson 18: Artists See Portraits-Henry VIII by Holbein the Younger
There is also a great material list at the front of the book that lets you know exactly what materials to have for use with the book.  We had to purchase a watercolor crayon set and an oil pastel set. The concept of this program is to get your child thinking and being creative.  The video shows the student how to use the art supplies. We have never used watercolor crayons and while it seems pretty easy to figure out how to use it's nice to have the video for instruction!  The book lessons are used more to have your child get involved in discussion and processing their thoughts.  Ultimately ARTistic Pursuits Inc. is wanting our children to take the art supplies provided to them and create original works of art. It's not so much about recreating what someone else has done, but seeing what they have done and making our own works of art. 

Here is a shot of the video where they are explaining how to cut your items from construction paper to make your picture. 

One of the beginning pages explaining how to use your materials. 

Issac and I found that we are both in love with the watercolor crayons. He has used them at least a dozen times since we did the first lesson. He's just fascinated with how he colors and the art work looks one way and with a little water it's transformed into something even more amazing.  I personally liked the range of the lessons and that some student drawings were in the book. I think it let Issac know that all art done by children looks different. Some are more gifted than others, but all children should love to create art and be proud of what they have created. In lesson 5 Issac had to observe nature. He did this lesson with his sister.  When sent outside to find his objects he grabbed the first 3 things he saw. His sister sent him back out because she felt he just grabbed 3 things without really looking around and seeing what he was surrounded with at the time. After more time observing he came back with some great items and was able to complete that project. One of this favorites was lesson 7 where he had to construct his art with objects he cut from construction paper.  

The above were some of our other works of art.  

There are currently 6 volumes: Art for Children, Art of the Ancients, Art of the Middle Ages, Artists that Shaped the Italian Renaiisance, Art of the Northern Countries and Art of the Impressionists.   Two additional ones are on the way in the summer of 2018: Art of the Middle Ages and Art of America.  Each book covers one semester and they can be used in chronological order or you are free to jump around based on your school studies. We've had lots of fun with this first book and plan to continue our art journey.  For more information about the books and to keep up with the new ones coming out check out ARTistic Pursuits Inc. on their social media sites: Facebook and Twitter