Dynamic Art Projects for Children: Includes Step-by-step Instructions And Photographs

I've been working out of this book for the school year with my children. There were only 3 projects which we did not care too much to do (one required a kiln, another was more "crafty", and my dd-9 didn't want to do the African masks - she thought they were too spooky). Aside from that, we love this book! The projects are thoroughly planned with a complete supply list and plenty of color photos to follow along. Also included are pictures of other children's artwork that have completed the projects. Each project is filled with dynamic colors and fun to do. There is such a nice variety using simple art supplies from constuction paper, watercolor, tempera, pastels and markers. A few of the projects required more expensive items (like a roll of red rosin paper), but we found cheaper substitutes (colored mat/pastel paper) that worked fine. I did have to purchase small cans of spray paint, an assortment of permanent markers, aluminum embossing, foam board and sequines. I found all of these things easily at Michael's. Some projects are inexpensive, while others will cost you if you don't have these items already on hand. The aluminum embossing cost the most ($5.99 but you can get 2 pictures from it). The kids' artwork has turned out so beautiful, that I have everything up on walls all over the house! Everyone that has seen them just "ooohs" and "ahhhs" over it. I loved this book as it is very "hands on". It also contains some art history along with the projects, too. It is spiral bound, which is a plus for laying it flat while working through it. This has great appeal for the age group of 8-12. Each project is challenging, yet fun and interesting. I will add that many of the assignments take a fair amount of time to complete. These are not "be done from start-to-finish in 30 minutes" projects. I have since learned to break them up into phases, completing each section on separate days. Otherwise, it may get too overwhelming. We have completed 16 of the 26 projects, and have enjoyed every one of them. Well worth the money!

I taught elementary school for 35 years and art was a very important subject for me. Now that I am retired and doing projects with my grandchildren I always look for new ideas. If you are a teacher, forget this book. If you are teaching your kids at home, it is ok but just ok. Most of these projects work if you are just working with three or four kids but they aren't designed for a classroom. There are so many materials that you need to buy and so many things that children, even middle school kids should not handle that I wonder why they were even in this book. For example, mat knives, tin snips, spray paints that only adults should use, spray dyes, just to mention a few. No art project for a child should include dangerous materials or implements. No art project for a child should have to have an adult do part of the project because the materials are unsuitable for children,. Just to mention some of the supplies you need to buy are: rosen paper (found only at building supply stores), spray glue, tissue lame fabric, vinyl covered wire, 36 guage aluminum foil from specialty shops, fake fur, ceramic clay and a kiln, wood slats, pvc pipe, many kinds of spray paint that is very expensive. There are many more books with much better projects. Great art work can be done with very simple, child safe materials. This book is not worth buying, look for something better.

I am an artist and I have struggled to teach to my own children - they want to do whatever I am doing, and it's difficult for me to come up with interesting and age-appropriate projects. Got this book for myself in December and I have just started a small class of 3 children in my home. We have made the cactus collage and the cityscape so far, and we cannot wait to begin the rest. Next week is the fantasy space art. I LOVE that the projects take more than a few steps to complete - this is not 'quick art' . Some of the steps require them to sit wait for projects to dry, or require several different projects to be assembled together. This helps me teach my small group that great art is not made in fifteen minutes. In this culture of instant gratification, thank you Denise Logan for this terrific book. The fantasy space art project includes teachable lessons on light and shadow, 3-D shapes, texture, splatter painting, foreground and background... GREAT ideas. I can't wait to do the Paul Klee landscape, pastel projects, Banyan tree, printmaking and contour drawing. So many kids art and crafts books dumb-down all the projects into ridiculously simple activities, but not this one. PLEASE write another book - we will be done with this in one year!

I homeschool my 6 & 8 year old boys. We use this book and Amazing Art Projects for kids also by Denise Logan. My boys LOVE doing the projects in this book. I largely ignore the age recommendations and am available to help with using spray paints and mat knives. My kids often alter the projects to fit their own creative impulses. Today, we are making the Dragons in Caves projects. My 6 year old drew a dragon much like the one in the book, but my 8 year old wanted to go a different direction with his, so he did. I am not artistic and frankly don't like planning, teaching or doing art projects. This makes it very easy for me to have the supplies on hand and be able to open the book and go with very little planning. My kids learn new techniques, use supplies and tools they wouldn't otherwise use and learn a bit about a selection of different artists and styles. I recommend this book, although I prefer Amazing Art Projects for Children slightly.

This is an excellent book which I highly recommend. I am using this for homeschooling to do art projects with my children and we are really enjoying the projects. The color photos make it really easy to follow the instructions and product art works that are fun and look great. Even if you're not "arty" this book makes it doable. Some of the materials I find expensive or hard to obtain, but I've easily found alternatives.

a wonderful book, full of a variety of different mediums! I love it!

This book has some really cool art projects that will appeal to both young girls and boys. While some of them are a bit challenging and time consuming, they can also be simplified for younger kids.I really like that there is an explanation of the art techniques that are being used, along with photos of work done by kids (so you can get an idea of what your child's work might look like compared to the main example). I did find it a bit strange that spray paint and a few other not-child-friendly items were used but I've just substituted those.Overall it's a great resource to have, although it is a bit pricy.

Very pleased with this book

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