Art Resources

Art is one of those things kids should just be encouraged to do. You can teach them theory till you're blue in the face, but if you don't let them hold a colored pencil, wield a brush, or imitate Van Gogh (except the ear-removing part), it'll fall on uncomprehending ears. Just as science is kind of dead without experimentation and observation, so art isn't a mere textbook pursuit to be read about and never practiced.

Edith Schaeffer wrote a superb little book titled The Hidden Art of Homemaking about the need for every Christian to imitate the Creator God by expressing their own creativity. She stresses that not everyone needs to be famous or make money from what they produce (not most, in fact), but that being creative and making art is an important element of our humanity.

We couldn't agree more. Kids need to understand that creative expression is a good thing when used to glorify God and encourage those around them, and that they shouldn't be embarrassed to explore and hone their talents. To that end, we're doing our best to offer plenty of tools and resources to help them do just that.

There's the tools themselves of course: markers, pencils, brushes, paints, etc., even an artist's smock for messy projects. Then there's the coloring books (a great place to start!), drawing and painting instruction guides, craft books, richly illustrated art history texts and artist biographies, pictorial explorations of great architecture, etc.

Some texts are aimed specifically at parents and teachers. Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain is a guide to moving beyond childish scrawls to advanced drawing techniques. Drawing With Children helps parents guide kids through the five elements of drawing, offering tips, advice, and exercises to help developing artists improve without getting frustrated.

The products from How Great Thou Art are instructional while helping kids relate art to a Christian worldview. This is essential: art is not created for its own sake, but for the glory of God and for the delight and instruction of others. We don't draw or paint or design just to entertain people, and if we do we need to reconsider what exactly it is we're up to. Teaching kids to keep things in perspective from the beginning is crucial.

Just letting your kiddos get their fingers smudged with markers and crayon shavings in their hair is probably the first step. Guidance is important in any pursuit, but so is the ability to try things, to fail, and to learn and do better next time. Supplies will help with the practice part; books, guides, and manuals will help with the getting better part.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
Did you find this review helpful?
669 Items found Print
1000 Artists' Books
by Sandra Salamony with Peter & Donna Thomas
from Quarry Books
for 9th-Adult
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
$19.00 (1 in stock)
101 Things I Learned in Architecture School
by Matthew Frederick
from MIT Press
for 9th-Adult
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
13 Buildings Children Should Know
by Annette Roeder
from Prestel Verlag
for 3rd-6th grade
in International Landmarks & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANINT)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
20 Ways to Draw a Mustache and 44 Other Funny Faces and Features
by Cara Bean
from Quarry Books
for 3rd-Adult
in Clearance: Art & Music (Location: ZCLE-ART)
$14.00
20 Ways to Draw A Shoe and 44 Other Sneakers, Slippers, Stilettos, and Slingbacks
by Julia Kuo
Csm from Quarry Books
for 3rd-Adult
in Clearance: Art & Music (Location: ZCLE-ART)
$14.00
20 Ways to Draw a Strawberry and 44 Other Elegant Edibles
by Zoe Ingram
from Quarry Books
for 3rd-Adult
in Clearance: Art & Music (Location: ZCLE-ART)
$14.00
60 Minutes to Better Painting
by Craig Nelson
from North Light Books
for Adult
in Painting Instruction (Location: ELE-ARTPAI)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Adventures in Cartooning
by James Sturm, Andrew Arnold, Alexis Frederick-Frost
from First Second
for 3rd-6th grade
in Cartooning (Location: ELE-ARTCART)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Alexander Calder
by Mike Venezia
from Children's Press
for 1st-5th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
All About Maps
from Gingko Press
for 6th-Adult
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Amazing Buildings
by Philip Wilkinson
from DK Publishing
for 3rd-7th grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$10.00 (2 in stock)
American Art Bingo Volume I
by Kristin Draeger
from ArtK12
for 3rd-10th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$19.95
American Art Bingo Volume II
by Kristin Draeger
from ArtK12
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$19.95
American Art History I - Bundle
by Kristin Draeger
from ArtK12
for 3rd-10th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
American Art History II - Bundle
by Kristin Draeger
from ArtK12
for 3rd-10th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
American Art History Volume I
by Kristin Draeger
from ArtK12
for 3rd-10th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$39.95
American Art History Volume II
by Kristin Draeger
from ArtK12
for 3rd-10th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$39.95 $27.00 (1 in stock)
American Barns and Covered Bridges
by Eric Sloane
1st edition from Wilfred Funk, Inc.
for 5th-Adult
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
American House - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by A. G. Smith
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Architecture Coloring Books (Location: COL-ARCH)
$4.24
An Introduction to Medieval Ivory Carvings
by Paul Williamson
from Her Majesty's Stationery Office
for 6th-Adult
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Ancient Egyptian Art
by Susie Hodge
First Printing
for 4th-6th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Ancient Greek Art
Art in History
by Susie Hodge
from Heinemann Educational Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Andrew Wyeth
by Andrew Wyeth
from New York Graphic Society
for Adult
in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC)
Andy Warhol
by Mike Venezia
from Children's Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Artists & Illustrators (Location: ELE-ARTISTS)
Annotated Mona Lisa
by Carol Strickland
3rd edition from Andrews McMeel
for 5th-12th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$29.99
Annotated Mona Lisa (old)
by Carol Strickland
2nd edition from Andrews McMeel
for 5th-12th grade
in Clearance: Art & Music (Location: ZCLE-ART)
$16.00 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Architecture
Perspectives on History Series
by Pat Perrin
from History Compass
for 6th-9th grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$7.95
Architecture and Construction
from Scholastic Inc.
for 4th-6th grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Art Adventures at Home - A Curriculum Guide for Home Schools
by Pattye Carlson and M. Jean Soyke
from Unknown Publisher
for 1st-5th grade
in Clearance: Art & Music (Location: ZCLE-ART)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Art and Artists of Russia
by Richard Hare
from Methuen
for Adult
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
Art and Civilization: Ancient Rome
Art and Civilization
by Giovanni Di Pasquale & Matilde Bardi
from Peter Bedrick Books
Roman History Reference for 4th-6th grade
in Oversized History Books (Location: HISW-OVER)
$9.00 (2 in stock)
Art Book About Color
by Rosie Dickins
from Usborne
for 2nd-6th grade
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
Art Coloring Book
by Sarah Courtauld
from Usborne
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
Art for Children: Renaissance
Art for Children
by Lillo Canto
from Chelsea House Publishing
Art Appreciation for 4th-6th grade
in Renaissance & Reformation (Location: HISW-REN)
$20.00 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Art Lab for Kids
by Susan Schwake, Photography by Rainer Schwake
from Quarry Books
for 3rd-8th grade
in Painting Instruction (Location: ELE-ARTPAI)
Art Level 1
by Julia Akers
from Master Books
for 1st grade
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
$27.19
Art Level 2
by Julia Akers
from Master Books
for 2nd grade
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
$27.19
Art Masterpieces to Color
by Marty Noble
from Dover Publications
for 5th-9th grade
in Fine Art Coloring Books (Location: COL-ART)
$11.04 $4.80 (1 in stock)
Art of Art for Children's Books
by Diana Klemin
1st edition from Clarkson Potter Publishers
for 9th-Adult
in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Art of Construction
by Mario Salvadori
from Chicago Review Press
for 5th-8th grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$16.95 $10.00 (2 in stock)
Art of Illuminated Letters
by Patricia Seligman, calligraphy by Timothy Noad
from Past Times
for 9th-Adult
in Calligraphy (Location: HAN-CALLIG)
Art of Sculpture
Scholastic: Voyages of Discovery #7
by Scholastic Books
from Scholastic Inc.
for 4th-6th grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$9.00 (2 in stock)
Art of the Graphic Memoir
by Tom Hart
from St. Martin's Griffin
for 9th-Adult
in Advanced Drawing Instruction (Location: ELE-ARTDRAD)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
Art of the New American Nation
by Shirley Glubok
from Macmillan
for 3rd-6th grade
in New Nation (1783-1801) (Location: HISA-18NN)
Art of the Renaissance
by Peter and Linda Murray
1999 reprint from Thames and Hudson
for 9th-Adult
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Art of the Southeastern Indians
by Shirley Glubok
from Macmillan
for 3rd-6th grade
in Native American History (Location: HISA-19NAT)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Art of the Spanish in the United States and Puerto Rico
by Shirley Glubok
from Macmillan
for 2nd-6th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Art of the Woodland Indians
by Shirley Glubok
from Macmillan
for 4th-6th grade
in Native American History (Location: HISA-19NAT)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Art Smart: Spot the Details and Find Out the Facts
Act from Dover Publications
for 1st-7th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$9.99 $6.00 (1 in stock)
Art Workshops for Children
by Herve Tullet
from Phaidon Press
for Adult
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$12.50 (1 in stock)
Art: Over 2,500 Works from Cave to Contemporary
from DK Publishing
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
Artist of the Reformation
by Joyce McPherson
from Greenleaf Press
Biography for 5th-9th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
Artist to Artist
from Jackson Creek Press
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse
by Eric Carle
from Philomel Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Oversized Picture Books (Location: PIC-OVER)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
ARTistic Pursuits Sculpture Technique: Construct
by Brenda Ellis
from Artistic Pursuits
for 4th-12th grade
in ARTistic Pursuits (Location: ELE-ARTPUR)
$35.00 (1 in stock)
ARTistic Pursuits Sculpture Technique: Model
by Brenda Ellis
from Artistic Pursuits
for 4th-12th grade
in ARTistic Pursuits (Location: ELE-ARTPUR)
$35.00 (1 in stock)
Artists Activity-Pak
Hands-On History
by Amy Pak
from Home School in the Woods
for 3rd-8th grade
in Hands-On History Activity-Paks (Location: HISRF-HOH)
$12.00
ArtWorks for Kids
by Lori Schue
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 1st-6th grade
in Evan-Moor Art & Drawing (Location: ZCLE-EM)
At Home with Beatrix Potter
by Susan Denyer
from Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
for 6th-9th grade
in Peter Rabbit & Friends (Location: FIC-PETER)
Atelier Art Curriculum Level 3
by Marcia L. Osterink
from Arts Attack Publications
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
$95.00 (1 in stock)
Baby Blessing
by Welleran Poltarnees
from Laughing Elephant
for Kindergarten-Adult
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Basher Science: Engineering
by Simon Basher, Tom Jackson
Reprint from Kingfisher
for 2nd-6th grade
in Basher Science (Location: SCI-BASH)
$9.99 $6.00 (1 in stock)
Basher Science: Engineering
by Simon Basher, Tom Jackson
KiwiCo from Kingfisher
for 2nd-6th grade
in Basher Science (Location: SCI-BASH)
Beautiful Oops!
by Barney Saltzberg
from Workman Publishing
for Preschool-4th grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
Beauty of Norway
by Jenny Phillips & Ashlee Klemm
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 2nd-5th grade
in Europe (Location: HISMC-EUR)
Because Barbara
by Sarah Mackenzie, illustrated by Eileen Ryan Ewen
from Waxwing Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$16.14
Beginning Painting DVD - Mini Course
for 1st-Adult
in How Great Thou Art (Location: ELE-ARTHGTA)
$28.00 (1 in stock)
Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin
by Marguerite Henry & Wesley Dennis
Reprint from Aladdin Paperbacks
for 3rd-6th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$6.79
Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin
by Marguerite Henry & Wesley Dennis
from Bobbs-Merril Co
Biography for 1st-6th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
Berta and Elmer Hader: A Lifetime of Art
by Joy Hoerner Rich, Karen Tolley, John and Judy Waller
from Joyful Productions
for Adult
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
BFB Art Appreciation Family Study Pack
from Beautiful Feet Books
for 2nd-12th grade
in Beautiful Feet Books (Location: HISCUR-BFB)
$109.95
BFB Art Appreciation Family Study Pack
from Beautiful Feet Books
for 2nd-12th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$109.95
Bible Picture Portfolios - Genesis
Bible Picture Portfolios
by Emily Kiser
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for 1st-12th grade
in Simply Charlotte Mason (Location: CUR-SCM)
Big Book of Cartooning Book I
by Vic Lockman
from Vic Lockman
for 4th-6th grade
in Drawing for Beginners (Location: ELE-ARTDRAW)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Big Book of Painting Nature in Watercolor
by Ferdinand Petrie (paintings), photographs by John Shaw
from Watson-Guptill Publications
for Adult
in Painting Instruction (Location: ELE-ARTPAI)
Big Doodling Book
by Fiona Watt
from Usborne
for 1st-5th grade
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
Bill Peet
by Bill Peet
from Houghton Mifflin
Biography for 4th-8th grade
1990 Caldecott Honor Book
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$16.99
Blackboard Drawing
by Mildred Swannell
from Yesterday's Classics
for Adult
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
$18.95 $8.00 (1 in stock)
Blank Comic Book: Draw Your Own!
from Unknown Publisher
for 3rd-8th grade
in Cartooning (Location: ELE-ARTCART)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Blank Graphic Novel
by Jeff Zeiss and Danny Morgan
from Pitchblank Comics
for 3rd-12th grade
in Cartooning (Location: ELE-ARTCART)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Book of Artrageous Projects
from Klutz
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
Book of Many Colors
by Barry Stebbing
from How Great Thou Art
for 5th-10th grade
in How Great Thou Art (Location: ELE-ARTHGTA)
Book of Many Colors - DVD
by Barry Stebbing
from How Great Thou Art
for 5th-10th grade
in How Great Thou Art (Location: ELE-ARTHGTA)
$32.95
Book on the Bookshelf
by Henry Petroski
from Vintage Classics
for 10th-Adult
in History of Books & Language (Location: HISV-BOOK)
$16.95
Botanical Painting in Watercolor
by Billy Showell
from Search Press
for Adult
in Painting Instruction (Location: ELE-ARTPAI)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
Botticelli
Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists
by Mike Venezia
from Children's Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
Boy Who Drew Birds
by Jacqueline Davies
from Houghton Mifflin
for 1st-3rd grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$15.29
Bridges Are to Cross
by Philemon Sturges
from G.P. Putnam's Sons
for 1st-4th grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Brooklyn Bridge
by Lynn Curlee
from Atheneum
for 3rd-6th grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Brunelleschi's Dome
from Penguin Books
for 11th-Adult
in Renaissance & Reformation (Location: HISW-REN)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Brush Drawing as Applied to Natural Forms and Common Objects
by May Mallam
from Yesterday's Classics
in Painting Instruction (Location: ELE-ARTPAI)
$16.95
Brush Drawing as Applied to Natural Forms and Common Objects
by May Mallam
Facsimile Edition from Riverbend Press
for 5th-12th grade
in Painting Instruction (Location: ELE-ARTPAI)
Brushwork
by Marion Hudson
from Living Book Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Painting Instruction (Location: ELE-ARTPAI)
$10.99
Brushwork
by Marion Hudson
from Yesterday's Classics
for 3rd-6th grade
in Painting Instruction (Location: ELE-ARTPAI)
$22.95 $11.50 (1 in stock)
Budding Builder
by Laura Laxton, Editor
from Gryphon House
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Building
by Elisha Cooper
1st edition from Greenwillow Books
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$7.50 (2 in stock)
Building Goes Up
by Ely Jacques Kahn, illustrations by Cal Sacks
Stated First Printing from Simon and Schuster
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC)
$19.00 (1 in stock)
Built to Last
by George Sullivan
from Scholastic Inc.
for 8th-Adult
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Built to Last
by David Macaulay
from Houghton Mifflin
for 4th-6th grade
in Oversized History Books (Location: HISW-OVER)
$36.99
California Missions - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by David Rickman
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Architecture Coloring Books (Location: COL-ARCH)
$4.24
1234567