Artistic Pursuits?

[MissRubyandKen]

I've been looking at Artistic Pursuits for next year and I'm certain I'm ordering it, but which book, idk? My dd is 10 and my ds is 8. I also have a younger dd, who is 2, who will likely be homeschooled in the future. At first buying the grades 4-6 Book 1 seemed like the way to go, but I'm wondering would they gain more from the program if they started at the beginning? I'm not concerned about 'grade level', but I'm not sure if the content and projects will be too 'young' for my dd, 10, in the K-3 books or if she'd gain loads more from the information presented by the program if we followed it sequentially. Any opinions?

[jlpumkin]

I don't know that I would worry about anything being too young. I don't find AP dumbed down at all.. so the art is real artwork and just a jumping off point for your discussions. Your children will probably just take it a little deeper.. As for the projects they tend to open ended instructions such as paint an activity or event such as you would find in a photograph. Your child will naturally respond at the ability level yk? We've really enjoyed Artistic Pursuits K-3 and I think my dd would have even if we started a year or 2 from now.

[Dillpicklechip]

We have the Elements of Art 4-6 book, which my 11 year old daughter has been using this past year. I agree that the assignments are very open ended so these books can be used with a wide range of ages and ability levels. For example, they'll say "Draw a scene from your memory" or such like. There is no right or wrong way to do the assignments. So although I haven't seen the K-3 book, I am willing to bet that the 4-6 book would be fine for both of your older children. Even the 2 year old could join in in her own way.