Book Description

Lavishly illustrated with 230 full color images, this family-oriented art resource introduces children ages 7 to 12, as well as their parents and educators, to more than 50 great artists and their work, with corresponding activities and explorations that inspire artistic development, focused looking, and even creative writing. Thematic chapters range from examining portraiture and landscape to playing with space and storytelling. Within each chapter a diverse range of American and European artists, art mediums, and time periods is represented. This treasure trove of artwork from the National Gallery of Art includes, among others, works by Raphael, Rembrandt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Henri Matisse, Chuck Close, Jacob Lawrence, Pablo Picasso, and Alexander Calder, representing a wide range of artistic styles and techniques. Written by museum educators with decades of hands-on experience in both art-making activities and making art relatable to children, the activities include sculpting a clay figure inspired by Edgar Degas; drawing an object from touch alone, inspired by Joan Miro’s experience as an art student; painting a double-sided portrait with one side reflecting physical traits and the other side personality traits, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s Ginevra de' Benci; and creating a story based on a Mary Cassatt painting. Educators, homeschoolers, and families alike will find their creativity sparked by this art extravaganza. The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, maintains one of the world's most renowned collections of American and European masterpieces from the thirteenth century to the present. An important component of the National Gallery of Art is its educational mission. This book was written and compiled by the museum's educators and is a collective effort of the Education Division at the National Gallery of Art.