Overview

There's a reason people call works of fine art "masterpieces"—they're groundbreaking and bold, just the sort of artwork that inspire creative children. Fine Art Adventures introduces young artists, ages 6 and up, to classic masterpieces and formal techniques, then lets them loose to create their own works of art. Each of the book's eight chapters covers a particular technique or subject of fine art: Color, Light & Shade, Shape, Black & White, Portraits, Landscapes, Animals, and Myths & Legends. Projects begin with a story of a famous work—Matisse's The Snail, Modigliani's Portrait of Anna Zborowska, Paul Cézanne's Mont Sainte-Victoire, and Whistler's Nocturne in Blue and Silver—followed by a question-and-answer section. Then it's time to break out the brushes, scissors, and paint. Children create two artworks based on the techniques and visual effects of the piece. The projects cover a wide range of media, from tissue paper mosaics to stencils to mobile sculptures, with a variety of difficulty levels, always encouraging and expanding the child's natural creative abilities.            Authors and educators Maja Pitamic and Jill Laidlaw explore the stories and meanings behind 18 key works of classic art as inspiration for these kid-tested, exciting, and creative projects. No prior knowledge of fine art is required, just enthusiasm for the subject and a willingness to discover.

Reviews

"The projects are well-targeted to the target audience and their transformative nature...smartly emphasizes how inspiration can take an artist down surprising paths." —Publishers Weekly

"These activities aim to bring adults and children together using art as a conversation starter, followed by encouraging quality time and skill building with a project."—School Library Journal

"The projects cover a wide range of media. . . with a variety of difficulty levels, always encouraging and expanding the child's natural creative abilities."—Midwest Book Review

"Fine Art Adventures: 36 Creative, Hands-On Projects Inspired by Classic Masterpieces is definitely a masterpiece of its own."—The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

"Attractively designed with nicely reproduced art. . ."—Booklist

"…the genius of this book is that each activity — designed for the skills of children aged between six and eight — extends logically from the original artwork, no matter what its medium, providing refreshing insights about painters and painting."—Staff Educator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

"With Fine Art Adventures, families, educators, and caregivers can inject some fun into their educational or recreational time."—Arts & Activities magazine 

Author Biography

Maja Pitamic has taught art to young children for nearly 20 years. She is the author of the popular Art Adventure books, Child's Play, and I Can Do It. Jill Laidlaw is the author of several books, including Frida Kahlo, Paul Klee, and other works on the history of Western painting and sculpture.