Artistic Pursuits Jr. High-Book Review

This has been a great start to a new year as far as art appreciation. We are using Artistic Pursuits Junior High Book 2 this year and the boys are learning how to use oil pastels. We have used the medium before but now they are getting to see the advantages of using oil pastels. They can blend more easily than with colored pencils. They get more color on the paper with oil pastels. They are a bit messier but if you apply a fixative when you are done they will not smear. This is my son's copy of a Matisse that he drew using oil pastels. This is an outdoor scene done with oil pastels I highly recommend this series of art books for all grades and skill levels. We are enjoying them so much and the boys are able to read the lesson themselves and go on their way to working on the projects. I usually hover over them and make sure they stay on task and sometimes I even join in and draw with them. They love it when I complete the same projects at the same time. We are really learning together. If you have oil pastels on your art shelf and you haven't used them yet this year, I encourage you to do so. I know that we sometimes hold back with the more expensive art supplies until we are ready to do "real" art but even your younger children will benefit from trying new things. Oil pastels are a great alternative to crayons and markers. Hope you give them a try, Barb Harmony Art Mom