Doing Art Together

I have used this book heavily in gaining ideas for teaching children. It is laid out in such a manner that it simplifies the process of teaching and gaining knowledge at the same time. I have used it when teaching my own grandchildren. It takes you from teaching children up to an adult section as well.

Reading this book influenced my developing philosophy for my own elementary school art program. While it is not written specifically for the public school program, many of the ideas can be incorporated. My students, in grades K-8, all enjoyed mixing their colors, using only the three primary colors, white, and, later, black. I would suggest this book to anyone, whether parent or teacher, looking for new ways to teach artitistic creativity.

I bought this book because I was looking for ways to explore art and art materials with my 4-year old son. This book has been a wonderful guide. For one thing, the author suggests ways to organize art materials which make the whole process at once more orderly and serious, lending a tone of respect and importance to art activities. . I also followed the author's suggestion of supplying my son with only the three primary colors, and have watched his surprise and joy as he's be learning on his own how to create different colors. ( In between colors, he has learned to carefully wash and dry his brush, and seems to take pride in his workmanship -- another technique I learned from the book). I've yet to use the suggestions on various types of collage and clay activities, but I look forward to doing so. Another feature of the book is the many reproductions of works of art by both famous artists and students in the author's workshops, as well as fascinating quotes about art by famous artists. There is much here to pore over. I have found this book very inspiring, both in helping my son "do" art and in "doing art" myself. It is a book I will treasure and use for a long time to come.