ARTistic Pursuits Grades 4-6 Book 1 - A Review

Product:  Grades 4-6 Book 1 - The Elements of Art and Composition

Price:  $42.95

Age Range:  4th - 6th grade

Company:  Artistic Pursuits

Other Products Available:
Art books for preschool through high school


Brief Intro: (from the website)

This book gives students their first in-depth look at the elements of art in a simply written text with illustrations in pencil, marker, and scratch art, the media they will be using. The elements of art and composition are explored through American art.



Sample pages and review comments.

Meet the developers: Brenda and Dan Ellis

Our Thoughts:

We have made different attempts at different art programs over the years.  None with much success.  Most of the time we just end up winging it.  And I end up wishing we had done more.  So when this program came up for review, I was very happy to be selected.

I looked it over and was happy to realize that we really could do this.  This program could work for us.  The book is made up of short, manageable lessons that a child could do own his own.  But we decided to do it together.  I get to learn the tips of the trade, while my 9 and 13 year olds draw the assignments, and my 3 year old does her own drawings with crayons and stickers.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much my daughters liked it.  They picked their own subjects to draw, based on the lesson requirements, and they took their time with the drawings.  I learned a very important lesson from the author.  She suggested that you always make to leave plenty of time for your child to finish the drawing.  At least an hour.  That a child rarely returns to the drawing with the same gusto the next time, once interrupted.  I am thrilled to say that my children take longer than I expected, meaning that they are taking their time and taking the assignment seriously.

They enjoy the lessons; they don't complain about art time; and they actually ask to do art.  They are learning important lessons and skills and even tips.  I have already seen improvement in just a few weeks. 

A plus is that the book references famous artists and their paintings.  She provides examples for students to study.  So we get some American art history thrown in as a bonus.  But when it comes time to draw, she lets the child pick an item, within a wide guideline, that interests the child.  Children are much more eager to draw an item that they find interesting, versus the proverbial bowl of fruit.

Final thoughts: I love this program.  My children enjoy it.  It is a winner here and I plan to keep using this book and then buy the next one in the series.

Supply Kits are available.

Gr 4-6 Book 1 Supply Kit

You can read about their philosophy and how they teach art.

Read more reviews .

Disclaimer: I received this product free of charge to review, as part of the TOS Homeschool Crew. The above is just my opinion. Please remember that opinions may, and do, vary.