Art Programs~Please tell me your favorite(s)!

[Amy+2]

Looking for an Art program for my boys.

First- I am NOT an artist...at all. Stick people are difficult for me. This is not a joke.

Second- I don't even know where to begin on this search. At conventions I tend to breeze by the Artsy tables. (refer to first point)

Third- My sons LOVE arts and crafts. Unlike their mom. (once again, refer to first point)

Fourth- I obviously need a program that pretty much does it all, explains it thoroughly and is simplified enough for me to teach it.

Fifth and Final - I will win the Mom of the Year Award in my home if I pull this one off. It will be the first time I achieve this honor.

So, if any of you have any great suggestions for me, I will be forever indebted to you AND I might even share the Mom of the Year award. (Which I am quite certain involves wearing a tiara ) :D

[Sophia]

This is one program that was easy for me to implement.

It didn't require much of me, except to pop the cd into the computer and have supplies ready.

Well, I did go over directions with them, but really, it's very easy to use for the non-artsy mom.

I still have the work they did from several years ago because they turned out so well!

[Patricia in WA]

I have an artsy son and I am anything but an artsy mom. My advice to you is look for your nearest art center to enroll in classes....lots of them. I have tried and tried and I have just realized I am not an art teacher. I will leave it to the professionals.:D

HTHs,

[TMarie]

We've had great success with Artistic Pursuits. It is very easy to use and it includes art appreciation. With each lesson you study a real artist & important work of art (prints included with book.) Then you apply what you have learned with a project written with complete directions. :) These are real art projects, not craft projects. We're finishing up the Elementary series this year. My kids range from 1st to 6th grade and they have all benefited from the projects.

AP fits very well with a classical study of history.
AP Elementary book 1 covers ancient art & middle ages
book 2 13th to 18th century art
book 3 impressionist - modern art

[Trivium Academy]

I agree! Artistic Pursuits is the best overall option, it takes care of everything for you! If you want a specialized curriculum look elsewhere, Artistic Pursuits is everything you seem to want though. :)

[Lenora in MD]

Just another vote for Artistic Pursuits. I have used for several years and we love it. Very easy to use.

[one l michele]

It depends if you want to cover "art" or something to instruct you on the techniques. We are using AP K-3 book 1 and IMO it doesn't teach how to do art. It teaches appreciation, history, and shows things artists look at, but the projects are so open ended I don't consider it instructional art. Perhaps that changes as you go up the levels? My boys have plenty of time to explore with art materials, they wanted to know the "how to's". We will be using How to Teach Art to Children by Evan Moore next year, you can view the entire book at that website. I just pulled out my 36 favorite lessons. It's hard to resist going ahead and starting it now since I have it, but AP was epensive since I also purchased the recommended materials, so I feel obligated to finish it. My middle (6) is very into drawing, I'm teaching him using the Drawing From the Right Side of the Brain techniques, he's gone through 2 of the Draw Write Now books as well. The following year we'll likely use Calvert Discoveries in Art, we used Calvert from Pre-K to 2nd and always enjoyed their art projects.

[g007girl]

We've used Discovering Great Artists. It's a great way to study some of the great artists and the projects for the kids are mostly really easy to implement. For just crafty things, we've used http://kinderart.com/ They have some really neat ideas, and they are also easy to implement.

[Linda in NM]

We've used Artistic Pursuits, some Draw Write Now books, Discovering Great Artists--my favorite is Meet the Masters.

[Lori C, Texas]

We love Artlier. http://www.homeschoolart.com/ My kids love it. It comes with a dvd and the lady on the dvd teaches the lesson. We have had a great time with this program. We only have the first level but hope to get the next with out tax money. Also, it is cheaper to buy the art supplies it calls for at Walmart (especially at school supply time) or Hobby Lobby. Their art kits are really expensive for what you get.

[Susie in CA]

Last year I found Barb's program "Harmony Fine Arts". The Website is www.harmonyfinearts.com. I really like how easy it is and that it covers a variety of projects as well as Art Appreciation. I will continue using this for some thime.

Susie

[2cents]

Artistic Pursuits! :) We also like the book 'Discovering Great Artists' :)

[neesek]

I have nothing to contribute to this discussion, but I had to laugh because I could have written your post almost word for word! When my dh was in school he made a deal with his art teacher - she would pass him if he promised never to take one of her classes again! He is better at drawing than I am - I think that says it all for artistic talent in our family!

Thanks for posting this. Everybody's answers have been very helpful!

[Patricia in WA]

I completely agree with Michele. AP is so open ended that for us "art challenged moms" it is not enough, hence my art class recommendation. My son also wants to know the hows and I have no idea the hows. Tina in WA uses Atelier and her children's works on her blog look great. I am really tempted but maybe she knows art which makes her success with Atelier different than it would with me. This is a difficult subject for some of us to really teach.

[Amy+2]

Hi, all!

The suggestions so far have been wonderful! I am looking into ALL of the above and checking out to see if there are any art classes available around here.;)

I had a friend tell me this morning about a program called How Great Thou Art. Anyone heard of or use that? It also has a DVD teaching set that comes with it. I am heading to their site now. I checked out Atelier and it looks amazing!! May have to invest there...

I think the Artistic Pursuits will be a great add on to whatever actual basic 'teaching' program I need. You moms are just the best!! Tiaras for everyone!!:D

[Linda in NM]

We use that, too--I really enjoy her focus on one composer/artist at a time...

[Debbie in London]

We love Artlier. http://www.homeschoolart.com/ My kids love it. It comes with a dvd and the lady on the dvd teaches the lesson. We have had a great time with this program. We only have the first level but hope to get the next with out tax money.


Lori, did you buy the teacher's manual? Also, what level did you start at? This program looks really good and I'm considering it for my 11 and almost 7 year old (I checked out your blog and saw you have two that are about the same ages). I'd love to be able to combine them but I'm not sure what level. Has combining it with different ages worked out ok?

Thanks,
Debbie

[Ellie]

it teaches actual concepts, using different media. It is recommended that the teacher (that would be you) should get ArtPacs for herself and do each project ahead of time, to model and to know ahead of time any problems the children might have. The projects are explained well enough that anyone can do them, even you :-)

Several suppliers sell Art With a Purpose, including Rod and Staff Publishers, Shekinah Curriculum Cellar (http://www.shekinahcc.com), and Rainbow Resources (http://www.rainbowresource.com).