Great American Artists for Kids: Hands-On Art Experiences in the Styles of Great American Masters

by MaryAnn F Kohl, Kim Solga

Overview

Fun and easy art-appreciation activities abound in this resource that features 75 American artists from colonial times to the present. A brief biography for each artist tells why his or her work is important, and a kid-tested art activity tries out the artist’s approach. For Georgia O’Keeffe, children will explore the concept of distance and foreground in a desert painting. To understand Frederic Remington's sculptures, they will create a face cast. Leroy Nieman will inspire a sketch of athletes. And for James Whistler, children will explore portraiture. Projects stress the creative process and encourage kids to try unusual techniques such as block printing, soak-stain, and stone carving as they learn about architecture, drawing, painting, photography, and sculpture. Great American Artists for Kids includes easy-to-follow icons to indicate the experience, preparation, and materials necessary for each project, as well as guides to the style, movement, or era of each artist. Resources include websites for further research or artworks, a glossary, and a list of artists by style. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781641601702
Publisher:	Chicago Review Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	07/09/2019
Series:	Bright Ideas for Learning (TM) Series , #9
Edition description:	Second edition
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	1020L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 12 Years

About the Author

MaryAnn F. Kohl is the award-winning author of Discovering Great Artists, First Art, and Preschool Art. She lives in Bellingham, Washington. Kim Solga, watercolor artist and writer in Mt. Shasta, California, specializes in art with children. She is the creator of KidsArt.com art teaching supplies and writes hand-on art books, magazines, and art curriculum texts. 

What People are Saying About This

Joseph Raffael

Great American Artists for Kids: Hands-On Art in the Styles of Great American Masters (2008) is written in the tradition of my other best-selling art books, that is, it values the child's unique creativity, individual discovery, and joyful exploration of art. Those of us who work with children and their development believe in "Process, not Product", which means that the child's creative process is more important than the finished product. However, the activities presented in this book are also highly satisfying to see and deeply atheistically enriching to enjoy. Each art project is all new and uses easy to find materials like paint and glue, cardboard and ribbon, and other common materials. One of the most exciting aspects of this book is that it is packed with full color images of great masterpieces by great American artists -- and also by amazing children! Over 75 artists are featured, and the color examples of their art are bright and clear and inspiring. My Bright Ring website has sample pages you can download, as well as a full click-to list of masterpiece examples for each of the 75 artists. As the great American artist Joseph Raffael said about this book, "This book shows art at its fullest and liveliest and brings out and inspires the would-be artist in all of us! The spirit of creativity streams off its pages. What a gift this is to young and old alike and indeed art itself. Looking at the book makes me want to rush into my studio and paint!" The child-tested activities are truly inspirational and...FUN!

Editorial Reviews

"This collection of activities will spark hours of exploration and innovative fun at home or in the classroom.” —New York Journal of Books


“It is a definite 5 star book.” —Devoted Mommy of 3

From the Publisher

Very well done! (Carrie Rodamaker, programs director, Frank Lloyd Wright Taliesin Preservation, Inc., Spring Green, Wisconsin)

Carrie Rodamaker

How refreshing! (Ruth V. Roberts, Indianapolis Museum of Art)

Ruth V. Roberts

It is rare to find such an amazing resource. (Lucy Perera-Adams, curator of education, Harwood Museum of Art, Taos, New Mexico)

Lucy Perera-Adams

Wonderful book. (Patricia Relay, administrator, Washington Art Consortium Bellingham, Washington)

Patricia Relay

Focuses children on the delight of putting one color directly next to or on top of another color, as opposed to filling in black outlines.

Wolf Kahn