Stories of Artists and Their Art

Using colorful illustrations and works by Master artists like Giotto, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Turner, this book tells the stories of individual artists within major periods of art from 13th century late Gothic to the academy artists of the 18th century. Projects encouraging creativity include watercolor painting, oil pastels, printmaking, and mixed media.

The introduction to each lesson helps children see a relationship between their own lives and that of the artist. Parents simply read the text and allow their child to ponder the similarities. The fictional story adds details and focuses on points for which the artist and his art are remembered. The story incorporates known facts about the artist’s life in a way that appeals to young minds. This ten-minute lesson is followed by a project related to the story in which the child works with materials in a variety of ways. The following lesson features a work of art by the Master artist and children interact by answering focused questions related to the artwork. This activity is followed by a project related to the artwork. Printmaking is covered over several artists and periods and is a favorite art technique for children of this age group. This book provides lessons for the completion of thirty-six finished drawings, paintings, and prints that are both original and wholly the child’s own.