Laurence Anholt has created a wonderful series of picture books, each featuring a famous artist. Matisse the King of Color is his most recent title and the one we are perusing this week. These books are a great introduction to the lives and masterpieces of great artists for elementary students.The younger crowd will enjoy the Mini Masters board book series. We have most of the titles on our bookshelf, and they are often requested by the smallest members of the household. A Magical Day with Matisse (and the others) really holds the attention of little people, as well as being an educational experience for the adult who is likely not familiar with many of the paintings. These have the distinction of being among my favorite board books, and will probably be the only ones to be transferred to our regular collection of books when the boys outgrow the rest.
Matisse, on my favorite topic lately:
An artist must possess Nature. He must identify himself with her rhythm, by efforts that will prepare the mastery which will later enable him to express himself in his own language. ~Henri Matisse
I used to do "Fine Arts Fridays" with my kids a few years ago. We'd study and imitate an artist while listening to a Great Composers CD. Well, for the past several years they've been taking art from an amazing homeschooling art teacher, and she taught art in much the same way I did (except that she's actually an artist and I'm surely not). Well, of course Fine Arts Fridays dropped by the wayside since they were getting this elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteThis year mine announced that they want a break from art class next year, and I'm actually happy because I am inspired to resume OUR own fine arts day around here!! Reading this post on Matisse has gotten me all excited again!
oooh! We loved Anholt's Matisse book. We only found it a few weeks back at the library. I'm thrilled to hear he has more. Btw, did you happen to notice that the nurse drawn on the cover resembles your portrait on the sidebar?!?
ReplyDeleteOkay, my friend. It is high time that I commented. I've been checking your blog for months and I love it! I think I found you while researching homeschool stuff. We will begin our third year in September. We do a nice little mix of Classical and Charlotte Mason, very similar to what you do. I've been preparing for next year and have been hung up on Science. I had the bright idea to check out what you use and found Christian Kids Explore Biology. I am so excited! I checked it out and I'm about to order it. It is exactly what I've been looking for.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestion! Keep blogging.
Blessings-
Erin