Artistic Pursuits Text and Video Art Instruction Series

Name: Artistic Pursuits Text and Video Art Instruction Series
Brand: Artistic Pursuits

by Artistic Pursuits

ArtGrades K–8

About This Curriculum

A comprehensive art education curriculum that integrates art instruction, art appreciation, and art history through beautifully illustrated hardcover books with accompanying video lessons, designed to develop both artistic skills and cultural understanding.

What makes it unique: Combines art instruction, art appreciation, and art history in an integrated approach with video demonstrations, making quality art education accessible to parents without artistic backgrounds while fostering creativity and observation skills.

Artistic Pursuits: Comprehensive Art Instruction with Strong Cultural Foundation

Artistic Pursuits is a K-8 art curriculum that combines technique instruction, art history, and hands-on projects through illustrated hardcover books and video lessons. The program progresses chronologically through art periods while teaching various media and building visual vocabulary.

Best for

Homeschool families and teachers seeking comprehensive art instruction with strong art history integration, particularly those without formal art training who need clear guidance and video support

Evaluation Criteria

6 strengths

Teacher TrainingStrength

The curriculum provides strong support for non-specialist teachers through detailed instructions, video modeling, and comprehensive materials lists.

Multiple reviews emphasize accessibility for 'artistically-challenged parents' and 'non-artistic backgrounds,' with clear layouts, supply lists, and video instruction that eliminates guesswork.

Direct InstructionStrength

The curriculum facilitates direct instruction through video lessons with explicit demonstration and clear textbook guidance.

Video lessons feature instructor Brenda Ellis demonstrating techniques, with host Ariel Holcomb providing context. Books include clear instructions, step-by-step guidance, and project examples.

Structured Vs OpenStrength

The curriculum effectively balances structured instruction with creative flexibility, providing clear techniques while allowing student choice in subject matter.

Projects provide general frameworks but allow students to choose specific subjects (like animal choice for pastel drawing). Skills are taught systematically while maintaining creative expression opportunities.

Vocabulary BuildingStrength

The curriculum builds visual vocabulary systematically, particularly through Volume 1 which explicitly focuses on building visual vocabulary.

Volume 1 is titled 'Building a Visual Vocabulary' and teaches design elements, art terminology, and concepts. Reviews mention learning about art elements like shape, color, and line.

Art History KnowledgeStrength

The curriculum strongly integrates art history with chronological progression through historical periods and study of master artists.

Seven of eight volumes are organized by historical periods (Ancient, Middle Ages, Renaissance, etc.), include master artwork studies, and connect art to historical context. Students learn about artists from cave paintings to Van Gogh.

Technique InstructionStrength

The curriculum provides explicit technique instruction through video demonstrations and progressive skill building across different art media.

Video lessons show how to work with each medium in project context, with skills building from basic techniques like cutting and coloring in Volume 1 to realistic drawing skills in Volume 8. Each course introduces new media systematically.

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com, castleviewacademy.com