Review: ARTistic Pursuits (TOS Review)

We have really enjoyed using ARTistic Pursuits over the last several weeks in our homeschool.  We have been using Early Elementary K-3, Book 1: Introduction to the Visual Arts.

Art is something that is easily forgotten for us.  It’s so easy to just have it drop to the wayside.  We use to take paid art classes, but it got pricey and there were some other issues also.  So, we were excited to be able to give this art program a try.

We were provided only with the curriculum book, therefore I had to purchase a few needed items that we didn’t already have.

My kids really enjoyed these art lessons.  Each lesson features a piece of art, there is a dialogue to read about that art, questions to ask about the piece of art (observation) and then a project to do that is related to that art.  It’s pretty simple and straight forward.  You need not be an artist to implement this curriculum.

This is mostly an ART APPRECIATION with application type of curriculum.  It is not really an ART INSTRUCTIONAL.  There are some tips given for each project, but if you are looking for a HOW TO DRAW program, this is not it.  

My kids really enjoyed the projects.  They leave room for imagination and exploration, while still teaching about art.  I love that there are several different mediums used for the projects.  Some of the mediums we used were Ebony Pencils, Water Color Crayons, Soft Pastels and Oil Pastels.  There is also Clay work (which we haven’t gotten to yet). 

You can find several lesson examples HERE

To give you an idea, here are several of the projects we completed:
(Art cards pictured are not part of this curriculum)

drawing houses with watercolor crayons


drawing shells with ebony pencils


using watercolor crayons

using oil pastels

landscape with water color crayons

animals with soft pastels

portraits with oil pastels

My kids are ages 4, 5(almost 6) and 8.  All of them enjoyed this curriculum at different levels.  I was really surprised by their interest in and application of the lessons. My 1 year old joined in sometimes as well (she has to do what everyone else is doing!). 

We used the program about 3 times a week, doing one lesson each sitting.  Lessons could be done as often as you wanted.  The program is really flexible.

If art is something missing from you homeschool and you have been wanting to figure it in but didn’t know how, if you want something that’s flexible and fun, this is a great program for you!   I love the Charlotte Mason feel about it. 

This book is designed for grades K-3, but could work for slightly younger and/or slightly older.  The cost is $47.95, and as mentioned the required materials are a separate purchase.  They have several options to choose from, see what other TOS Members had to say about those!

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