Art Basics for Children

Rich and Sharon Jeffus are like the "Backyard Scientist(s)" of art! Their books remind me so much of Jane Hoffman - it's like they can't wait to share everything with you about art! It's delightful to peruse a book in which the authors' enthusiasm is so obvious! Before the actual lessons in this book, you get a wonderful section on using art supplies (finally, someone has taken the time to explain those pencil grades!). Here are lots of "how to's" and incredible tips for drawing with pencil and charcoal, using oil pastels, tempera paints, water colors, and chalk pastels. Following is a page of "recipes" for different modeling compounds, including an edible clay! Before encountering the "real" lessons are 7 full pages of exercises in drawing from basic shapes. This is similar to the technique endorsed by Mona Brooks in Drawing with Children. The heart of the drawing book is the 26 lessons, corresponding to the 26 letters of the alphabet, entitled, The ABC's of Art. Here, in their typical breezy, chatty style the authors have given us much to consider and do on every page. Each lesson contains one or more art principles or definitions, one or more art activities, and information or practice on color and techniques. Plan on spending more than one art period for some of the lessons. As usual, sample artwork and illustrations provide excellent models. It is difficult to decide an "appropriate" age level for this course. While it looks as though Mark, at 7 would be able to do and enjoy the exercises, an adult would be equally instructed! This is an art course you can definitely use with all of your children at once! We only wish it didn't have to end at "Z" (actually, it doesn't really end at "Z", because they've packed an additional goody at the end - a brief overview of the major art styles, along with illustrative examples). We hope Visual Manna will produce additional "beginner-type" books in the future!