A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

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Art Series: 642 Things about Me.

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You know how art is about more than drawing, painting, cutting, gluing and making.  How art is also about words and how to use them beautifully?   Here is a book to encourage beauty in both of those formats for your young artists and writers.    642 things about me.

Chronicle Books has come out with another 642 things book!    This one is geared for the 8-12 year old writer and artist.    

As you can see there is plenty of space to write and to draw, sometimes to do both for the same topic.

Some of the things you might be asked to write about are:

  • something you collect
  • a cheer you could chant
  • describe what thunder sounds like
  • the music at the dentist office

Things to write and draw

  • an historical figure image, quote, question to ask
  • an artist that inspires, art work, a project you could do

Things you can draw:

  • treasure chest at the bottom of the ocean
  • colossal bike ramp
  • flag of your country
  • a valentine 
  • a merit badge for bravery

So many things to write, to draw.
So many things to see and to listen for.  Thoughts to consider, quotes that inspire.

Get this book into the hands of your young artist and watch them get busy being inspired to learn, draw, grow, and develop.  A good thing yes?

You can find my reviews on 
642 Big Things to Draw
642 Places to Draw.

If looking for the complete series of the 642 books visit Chronicle books.

642 Things About Me: Young Writer’s & Artist’s Edition
Chronicle Books
7.5 x 8.95 
304 pages
Ages 8-12

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

 

Art Series: Earth-Space Coloring Book

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 Imagine a book where you could combine a love of learning, with a love of colouring.   Right now my son is big into astronomy…he’s having fun doing experiments, reading and listening, watching youtube videos…and now he can see pictures of what he is learning about in a softcover colouring book AND if he were so inclined…try to replicate what he sees.

Allow me to introduce to you a  new colouring book.   Earth-Space.  This lovely book is put together by Chronicle Books.

This book is beautiful.   The images of space that are photographs taken from the Archives of NASA.  They are breathtakingly beautiful.

Each picture is labelled so we know just what we are looking at.   We see earth from space, corona australis, the orion nebula, stellar snowflake cluster and so much more.

Some of the images are so close you could almost reach out and touch them, while others really point out the grandeur of God to me…that he could make something so interesting to look at, like the Caterpillar of dust and gas.

Each page opens into two page, the first page of the natural phenomena, the second with it broken down into simple lines.   This breaks the natural beauty seem more attainable to colour.  I have to admit though, I felt intimidated by the idea of trying to replicate the variety of colours presented.  BUT since each image is broken down simple lines, it is easier diverge… take for instance the image of rings of Saturn seen below…the colouring page does not depict ALL the rings, so you can use the colours you have at hand, or if desired…you could completely change it up.  It’s a colouring book… do what you want eh?

As you can see, each colouring page is done with simple lines.  Allowing each area to be coloured in sections, or swirls or whatever you wish.   These lines give you connecting points to the real picture so you can build off that.

Just a fascinating colouring book, that at first (to me looked intimidating) but as I continued to look through and think about it, I just found it fascinating as it’s different then other colouring books, it’s more free form with the lines just providing a grounding to base one’s work off of.  Mix colours, don’t be constrained by lines, and just have fun recreating.

I can EASILY see this being used in an astronomy class with students as well.  Even just to look at the pictures to show the beauty that can be found in the galaxy above us.  🙂


Earth Space Coloring book: Photographs from the Archives of NASA.

Published by Chronicle Books.
Pages: 80
Size 8.63 x 11

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books

Art Series: The Painting-In Book

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Today I have a NEAT book.  It’s  one of those use it up type books, but could easily, be adapted for a classroom setting.

It’s called the Painting-In Book, it’s written by Anna Rumsby, and it is just a fun book… meant to teach young children about paint and how to use it.

Book Synopsis: 
Can you give the gorilla a jungle to hide in? Can you create some
honeycomb for the bees? And can you mix up some delicious flavors of ice
cream?

Create paint masterpieces with nothing more than your
poster paints and Anna Rumsby’s entertaining activity pages. A great big
book of painting fun!

Also contains an introduction to mixing colors and simple, easy-to-copy painting techniques. 

My thoughts:
This is such a neat little book.  64 pages filled with one sided sheets to help young children express themselves with paint, learning to mix colours, and use differing paint techniques.

Can you give a dog some long hair?

Can you help this boy have fun with the elephant?

The instructions on each page are written clearly and simply.
I am not sure if it is the copy that I received, but the pages pull out very easily.  This makes it easy to pull individual pages out in order to let your little artist create, and later display.

Recommendation:
If you have young children, and want to let them show their artistic side and learn a few things while doing so, this book will work for you.   If you KNOW someone with young children this would make a great gift, along with some washable paints.

The Painting-In Book: 30 Paint and Play Activities
By: Anna Rumsby
Pages: 64
Geared for ages 3-5
Published by: Laurence King
Size: 14.56 x 10.29
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

Amazon.ca: The Painting-In Book: 30 Paint and Play Activities

Amazon.com: The Painting-In Book: 30 Paint and Play Activities

I Linked up at the Virtual Fridge this week. Good place to go to for Art Inspiration!

Art Series: One Last Word

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Today I have a different sort of an art book for you.   It’s the art of words, words in poetry that can touch you heart and elicit emotions and conversation, that can have a child go “meh” and a mom go “I like this one”.   (and have the reverse happen).  A book of verse containing works of art that cause a boy to say “I like that one mom”.

This type of art is also good.  🙂

So let me then tell you of this book “One Last Word”.

This book is a tribute to the Harlem Renaissance poets.  Quite honestly I had NO idea what the Harlem Renaissance was, but the beauty and the imagery found within these poems had me searching for what it was.   According to History.com “Spanning the 1920s to the mid-1930s, the Harlem Renaissance was a
literary, artistic, and intellectual movement that kindled a new black
cultural identity. Its essence was summed up by critic and teacher Alain
Locke in 1926 when he declared that through art, “Negro life is seizing
its first chances for group expression and self determination.” Harlem
became the center of a “spiritual coming of age” in which Locke’s “New
Negro” transformed “social disillusionment to race pride.” Chiefly
literary, the Renaissance included the visual arts but excluded jazz,
despite its parallel emergence as a black art form.“

So a time when people of Negro descent were learning to take pride in who they were and not be beaten down by their past.   If you want to learn more…read more from The History site.

I read this poem in particular, and books like the Book of Negroes pops into my head, and I can imagine that pride of remembering who you are, and the carefulness of remembering where you have been.  How hard it must have been to separate the two.

Many of the poems in this book touched my heart…the art work and poems take up 94 pages in a 120 page book, hardcover.  The remaining pages are biographies of the poets and artists.

94 pages of beauty … some with hurt felt…but mostly of the joy and pride of a person or people recognizing who they are.  Some see God in the picture, others don’t.

Three sections: Emergency Measures has seven poems.    Calling Dreams has 14 poems and To a Dark Girl has 9 poems.

The poem “We Wear the Mask” made me think of more than just negroes who suffered but all the different people who struggle with hidden issues, hurts and sorrows, mental or physical frailities, but not wanting to diminish the pain of the black folks who suffered so.  Just made me think beyond you know what I mean?

 So much beauty in words and images, chances to see inside the soul of another person.. it is good, you know?   Art!  In its own way.

I thought I would leave you with one more poem to intrigue your heart.

IF you are learning about black history… do take in this book as it’s important part to consider.  If you like poignant poetry, or are searching for poems for your child to memorize, get this book.  It’s a great book of poetry and should you get your child intrigued, could provoke conversation…or just be nice to listen to!  🙂  you will find my affiliate links below, thank you for your support.

 One Last Word – Wisdom from the Harlem Resistance.
By Nikki Grimes
Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books
128 pages
Age Range: 10-14 (or up through adult)
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

Amazon.ca: One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance

Amazon.com: One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance

Where the lad learns early start, early end.

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Monday:
Basics done quickly, wants to do no school at Gramma’s other than playing a game and reading.

Tuesday:
Schooling done: but I’m sick so stayed out of the way.    He did everything on his list easily and quickly.  He’s learned starting earlier means he is done earlier.  New sword was made.

Wednesday:
On fire with life today, schooling done quickly.   No Foodbank since I was still sick.
Sword broken in stupid accident.  New components purchased.  My fault the accident happened so headachy and icky feeling out we went to get needed supplies.    The lad worked on his iceberg experiment.   This is a redo of the experiment we tried last week but there were too many variables that were problematic.  The lad took the initiative to reconfigure it to be more accurate.  This allowed me to introduce writing a lab report in practice.  Been talking about it, now doing it.  He dictated this one to me.

Thursday:

On fire: schooling done quickly.
Introduced: reading about Canadians.  Picking one from three books I have, reading it and then telling me about it.   He was supposed to read one chapter but forgot the other day so read two today.   He narrated about Norman Bethune and Madeleine de Vercheres.

We had a pleasant surprise of learning more from an ART video about the human skeleton than from some of the medical ones we tried.

Friday:

I woke up feeling hollow and rather late…the lad was doing well with his schooling and was almost done. I asked him what his plans were for when he finished his schooling… he said “build a new sword mom”. I said okay… build a sword! I got a Huge THANK YOU and a hug and off he went.

Fridays is our do it different day… we do almost everything differently except for bible and history. We normally do art, some type of STEM project and a fun word knowledge book. The work he does building a sword easily qualifies as a STEM project so it was easy to let him go. 

Saturday:

The lad had “cadet-o-rama” today so was gone most of the day. Hubby and I went out for breakfast and then since he’s still not feeling well from the bug that soared through our house this week we went home and chilled.

I got a HUGE number of blog posts up and scheduled. We chatted and watched movies and just had a lovely quiet day. I also got the young bunnies photographed and my website updated. A good productive day.

Reviews:
Love is in the air, Love is in picture books. review of two picture books.
 Art Series: The Art of Cursive Logic.  A rather neat idea of a colouring book.

 
Faith and Life: 
Breathe in…out.  A poem for a word prompt party.
To what way does your heart turn?  Devotion from Ezekiel 33.
Recipe: Tuna Melts. 
The watchmans’ Job Description.  Devotion from Ezekiel 33. 
Hymn Study: I come to the garden Alone.
Sunday Sermon: Your Own Personal Jesus.
 
Homeschooling: 
STEM: 3D St. Peter’s Basilica.  Made a 3D puzzle of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Lab Report on Icebergs. 
Learning about Canada: Artic Tern.  A quick report on Artic Tern, a teaching post for the lad.
C is for O Canada.  An ABC blogging post.
January Book Reads.   Books read over the past month.
Reluctant Artist – What do you do?  a practical guide to overcoming reluctance.  

Linking up at the following Places:
 
Homeschool Highlights.
Family Friday Link Ups:
Weird Unsocialized homeschoolers: Weekly Wraps Up.
Homeschool blog and tell.

Art Series: Incredible Art Department

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Today for my art series I wanted to tell you about a neat art Website that I discovered.  It is called the Incredible Art Department.


I honestly was pointed it’s way by someone and can’t remember who so if it was YOU.. let me know and I’ll extend kudos to you.

This is a rather neat site that is just plum full of art lessons and ideas.

The Incredible Art Department started at as a showcase for students in Indiana.

It has grown from those humble beginnings to a site full of art lessons and images.  A diverse range of ideas for teachers, educators, artists, parents and students.

Just a fascinating website.

Check out this partial list of middle school materials

This is just a sample of the list and I find myself wanting to dig in, but I can’t until we finish our current art project.  🙂     The lad is doing his thing and I’m doing mine, and by the end of it, we’ll understand the mountains of Canada better eh?  🙂

So let’s see…

They have material for students from elementary up through highschool.  Projects that adults might want to take on, projects for individuals as well as classrooms.  Projects that involve more than pencil, paper or paint.  Imagine using clothing as a vehicle to communicate an art project.    Making Faberge eggs or using a chess board to create art.

So many interesting projects just waiting for you to take on.

Give it a boo won’t you?

http://www.incredibleart.org/
IAD
began as a showcase for elementary art students in Indiana and now
includes a diverse range of subjects and topics of interest to art
educators, general area teachers, students, parents, artists, and
homeschoolers the world over. – See more at:
http://www.incredibleart.org/#sthash.7cOv3rLJ.dpuf
IAD
began as a showcase for elementary art students in Indiana and now
includes a diverse range of subjects and topics of interest to art
educators, general area teachers, students, parents, artists, and
homeschoolers the world over.
On this site you can find free art lessons, news, art resources, art careers, schools, and help for new art teachers.

– See more at: http://www.incredibleart.org/#sthash.7cOv3rLJ.dpuf

IAD
began as a showcase for elementary art students in Indiana and now
includes a diverse range of subjects and topics of interest to art
educators, general area teachers, students, parents, artists, and
homeschoolers the world over.
On this site you can find free art lessons, news, art resources, art careers, schools, and help for new art teachers.

– See more at: http://www.incredibleart.org/#sthash.7cOv3rLJ.dpuf

Art Series: Zentangle – anything is possible one stroke at a time

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Zentangles…I had never heard that term before until I received this book.   The cover made me think of the colouring books that I enjoy doing.   I always thought those were called mandalas though, which of course led me to research that idea.

A mandala is a piece of art made in a circle. Mandala means “circle” in Sanskrit.   In Buddhist and Hindu faith systems they have spiritual significance.  Outside those circles they are just circular drawings that can used to help you relax.

A zentangle is any design made from repetitive patterns.  Does not have to be in a circle shape.

There are some people who use the words interchangeably, but mandalas are supposed to circular, zentangles can be anything.

Good to know eh?

Anyways, all that to tell you about this book I have in my hands here.  Zentangle: the inspiring and mindful drawing workbook.  This workbook has over 70 practice tiles to play around with.  It has been put together by Jane Marbaix.

Zentangles are a way of doodling, it’s making a variety of shapes and designs on purpose.  Mostly done to fill in a space, but sometimes they just become an art form.

What I thoroughly appreciate about this book as it walks you through right from the beginning how to doodle with purpose.   It always amazes me when I see doodles come to life.   Take for instance this video.  Simple lines and shapes, but suddenly they become something.

Just fascinating to me.

Ms. Marbaix provides the space right in the book to practice the techniques that she shows the reader how to do.

She starts with the very basics, how to make the most basic of doodles and what they are called.   Doodles like tipples, crescent moon, static, zander, poke root, hollibaugh and msst.   We then proceed to the use of string and more advanced doodles.

Each step leads to more advanced techniques.

Before you know you it you’ll be filling in shapes and making rubber stamps and all sorts of interesting items.

A whole world is waiting to be drawn and doodled.

Chapters are:

  1. What is a Zentangle?
  2. First Steps
  3. Zentangle Inspired Art
  4. Tanglenhancers
  5. Zentangle Friends
  6. Tangling Fun
  7. Using Stencils
  8. Zendalas
  9. Shapes
  10. Letters and Numbers
  11. Rubber Stamping
  12. Kids Time
  13. Directory of Tangles

 I really like the lay out and the sheer amount of technique in this book.   I like to doodle, but would never call myself an artist.  I love art, but the know-how is often lacking.  If I were to work through all the lessons in this book, I would be able to make my own zentangles.   Perhaps then I could call myself a zentangle artist.  🙂

Of course as I go through this book I keep thinking to myself… wouldn’t this be fun to do with a group of interested youth?   The lessons in the book are straight-forward, they could all bring lots of paper to practice on, ideas to spur each other to doing their doodle drawings better, and can you imagine the lovely zentangles they could come up with?    To have fun deciding which of the more complicated designs they might wish to learn.

 Each of these more complicated designs comes complete with a green box describing it’s name and what the pattern is.  I just love how this book starts with easy and gradually works it way up to tougher designs to create. 

This is a great book to learn the how and wherefore’s of doing good doodling as you learn to draw zentangles.  Well-written, with lots of information and examples to draw from.  Inspiration awaits!

Use it to relax, to focus your mind, to release your creative talent, to refine your doodling abilities and more.   It’s a great book to learn from, check it out today, really.

 Zentangles: the inspiring and mindful drawing workbook with over 70 practice tiles.
Author: Jane Marbaix
Publisher: Thunder Bay Press
size: 9.11 x 10.72
  176 pages