I think that art is extremely undervalued as a means for teaching our children and for helping them express themselves early on. Why do we wait so long to teach valuable principles that art can help instill...
Peter Reynolds Has great books, so I'll start with his...
- Letting go of Perfectionism
Ish Book
Teaching that drawing isn't about being perfect, but capturing the essence of the idea or object. I say ish to my son all the time now. And he just smiles and lets go of his perfect view...confirming to himself that it's ok...he's ok. Smiles all around.
- Exploring Deeply and Giving things a Try
The Dot
When Vashti gets frustrated and doesn't know where to start with drawing, the teacher has her sign her "marker-stab" dot and frames it. Vashti then challenges herself to do better. And her world expands into a gallery of dot-variety that inspires others. (my personal favorite!)
- Opportunities for trying new things & Observation
Sky Color
When faced with not having a blue and needing to paint the sky, she finds a new opportunity to tobserve, think and adapt in trying something new. She uses everything but blue! And it's beautiful.
More from Peter Reynolds
I'm Here (about noticing sounds, others and being present and being a friend)
North Star (about not following the path others take, just because...but taking your own path. Talk about homeschooling and entrepreneurship, eh?!)
I Am Yoga (i really want to read this one! but the library doesn't have it yet. anyone else want to request it from the library to help urge them to get it?)
There are so many other great stories by other people....
Harold and the Purple Crayon (love this simple crayon that the boy draws as he tells a little story)
Not a Box (using a box for a variety of things; sequel is Not A Stick)
The Pencil (about a boy and his pencil...then they color, then the erasers get in on the action. Pretty funny, but it leads you through the book as he draws more. Lind Harold and Purple Crayon, but supersized)
I Ain't gonna Paint No More
This one is fun for messy out-of-the-box painting. For some reason, it isn't one of my favorites though.
Art
This one takes the reader through the process of creating some art. I love that you see the pieces sepearately during the book, but then his master piece at the end incorporates lots of those original pieces that came together into one vision for him.
Look What I did With a Leaf
Then you can get into Nature art...whole 'nother ball game, but super fun.
A Day With No Crayons
This is a good book about observing color and thinking outside the box of crayons.
Art & Max
This one is just a funny story about an artist...breaking from the still, exact portrait painting into a new world of color and exploration. I'm sure it has words, but I don't even recall them...so good to visually see the progression.
Mice
This book is all about mice who cut out paper and make portraits of themselves and the cat. Every page is their paper creations. It'd be cute to make a simple mouse with string arms. you can talk about shapes.
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Ed Emberley Books
Fingerpint or Thumbprint Books
I love Ed Emberly! This book (and a few other like it) uses simple fingerprints and then just adds dots or lines. And who can't draw those? So empowering to create! He has some holiday versions too. lots of themes within.
Picture Pie
We've been enjoying this one that is all based on a circle and cutting it into portions...
Other Books for real Art Principle Basics
Look, Look, Look
Walks you through a postcard of a famous painting and point out the basic art elements of color, shape, line, etc.
Mouse Shapes
Uses shapes for making pictures
Mouse Paint
introduces basic colors
Green
Exploring the various types of green (forest green, lime green, pea green, etc.). An award winning cute book with clever cut-outs!
Little Green
Great beginners introduction to representing movement and motion of animals and things through lines, squiggles, zigzags. Any level artist can do that! This book is particularly about a hummingbird and the boy just watches and watches it for a long time, from his window (with his paint brush). Great for pointing out the need for observation.
Color Zoo & Color Farm
These books just show you animals made from shapes, but they go shape by shape as the face changes into a new animal by changing one shape. We like just looking at it as a jumping off point to then cut out shapes and make animals, but there is no real story or anything.
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There are so many more! I have a long list of them I'm trying to get through in the next few years...but I hope to post a part two of the books that introduce you to both art and a famous artist, like "Noisy Paintbox" about Kandinsky who would create music because he saw it as color in his mind. That would be fun to create an art color project by listening to different music and trying to express self and sound.
So let me know if you know of any I can add to my list--running tab on Goodreads!
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