Is anyone using this book for art lessons with their kids? Have you found a particularly good set of markers to use, or are you sticking with the basic Crayola markers?
I’m using it, but just casually! I didn’t bother with finding the good markers. I thought about it, but from reading the text, decided that the point was to use something non-eraseable, so we’re just using stuff we already have at home.
I think you could find them at Hobby Lobby or an art store, if you want to invest in something nicer.
We bought ours at Hobby Lobby and the girls enjoy using them. They say Professional Graphic Art Marker “art MARKER” with chisel and extra fine tips. We are on the WOW! I can draw exercise on page 76 but I’m letting them use pencil. The pictures are small and it’s just for practice. When we did the abstract exercises we did use the markers and they turned out pretty cool with the bright colors.
I’m taking my time through this book and enjoying it. But I’m afraid to venture out to realistic items to draw around the house with an 8 yr old who gets easily discouraged. 🙁 She is doing well however with the Wow I can draw exercises.
This has been the only thing so far (2yrs) that we started and just can’t get through it. I know we are not the most artistic family but wow! Put it down for now… 🙁
We just started using this book, and are using it casually as well. I kept putting off using it with the kids out of “fear” of not creating the right atmosphere, not having money to buy the correct markers, etc. Finally I just decided that if we are going to do it, it will have to be a bit more relaxed, and that will better than not at all! I bought a big pack of Sargent markers for each of the kids – it had lots of great colors and was only about $4 or $5. We will probably start to invest in some better quality markers, a little at a time.
We started with the basic elements lesson, and the level placement. Today we did the abstract exercise, and tomorrow we’ll try the “Wow, I can draw!” one. So far my daughter who is 7 is enjoying it, so we’ll see how it goes. I’d love to hear how everyone else is liking it and any tips for success.
We used this book for a weekly Drawing Class last year. (Just my children and I.) It was very helpful teaching the Five Umm…ummm….Things (man, I learned that so well, didn’t I!) of drawing: circle, dot, straight line, curved line, and angle line. This really helped my children “take apart” a picture to be able to draw it.
Jimmie has a squidoo page about it and Donna Young has a TON of papers to download of the practice exercises. I downloaded a book What To Draw And How to Draw It (just google it) and printed out many of the step-by-step pictures. These and the practice exercises really helped us in getting going. Then we moved on to objects and copying pictures from books.
That is what I like about this book, how they show you to break down the 5 basic elements of shape. 🙂 I know that phrase by heart since I would get out our poster each week. I think it helps not to rush to each lesson, but take a few weeks to practice abstract drawing then a few weeks to Wow I can draw exercise. My girls are only 8 and 6 so they are used to representational drawing. My 8 yr old is doing very well though! she is more excited to draw and is pleased with her drawings. I am hoping nature study drawing will be more fun for her now.
Art Projects for Kids has PDF files for sale of lots of warm ups too. There are K-2 warm ups and 3-5 warms ups. The are listed on the right side of the page after you scroll down a bit.
Thanks so much for all your feedback! We have just completed the exercise to determine the level to start with. I’m hoping to start the lessons next week. The website that baileymom posted looks great, as do the others. I still can’t decide about the markers…my 5yo already does a TON of drawing with thin crayolas and is quite happy with them, but I wanted to supplement with some thicker ones that he could color in with.
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