Painting with Children

As a Waldorfish homeschool mama to 6, I saw no reason to buy this book. We paint with watercolors all the time! Really, what more could I learn about painting? This book always came across my search for other Waldorf curriculum, but I didn't pay it any mind. Well, I was wrong. Last year, I saw it at a friend's house and looked through it. I was surprised at what I "wasn't" doing during out painting time! The introduction to colors and the stories was very neat to read about. I went back to the basics with my 3 youngest and changed the older kids projects. I did end up buying the book to have a copy at home. I prefer having a book as to trying to bookmark websites or printing endless pages that I will misplace or have the little ones color all over.

a great resource for parents and art teachers. inspiring paintings by young children. a must for anyone who wishes to start their children on a lifelong exploration of color. i'm an artist and father who found this book very helpful!

This wonderful book is fundamentally academic (presents research and writings from Rudolf Steiner and Goethe; recommends poetry by Shakespeare and Wordsworth) yet warm and practical. Brunhild Muller explains first the effect each color has on a child. This is because children experience color in a more vivid and emotional way than many of us. Most adults have lost what they knew about color as children, having been taught that what there is to know about a color is its name and nothing more. The seemingly simple task of preparing to paint is divided into five steps which are discussed in detail; tips for materials are also included. Later chapters give ideas for setting the stage for a painting experience -- such as stories, poetry, seasons, or the moods of nature. Innovative ways to introduce color mixing are also presented. The entire theory of how children perceive color, and its ramifications for introducing painting, is well expressed. I found this book inspirational and would especially recommend it to any homeschooling parent.