Art Workshop for Children is not just another book of straightforward art projects. The book's unique child-led approach provides a framework for cultivating creative thinking and encourages the wonder that comes when children are allowed to freely explore the creative process and their materials. As children work through these open-ended workshops, adults are guided on how to be facilitators who provide questions, encourage deep thinking, and help spark an excitement for discovery. Children explore basic materials and workshops that use minimal supplies, and then gradually add new materials to fill the art cabinets as well as new skills and more complex workshops. Most workshops are suitable to preschool-aged children, and each contains ideas for explorations and new twists to engage older or more experienced artists. Interspersed throughout are sidebar essays that introduce perspectives on mess-making, imperfection, the role of adult, collaborative art, and thoughts on the Reggio Emilia method, a self-guided teaching philosophy. These pieces underscore the value of art-making with children, and support the parent/teacher/care-giver on how to successfully lead, question, and navigate their children through the workshops to result in the fullest experiences.

This book teaches the reader to think of a photograph as a canvas for a wide range of artistic manipulation and coloring techniques. Once upon a time, you hesitated to even take scissors to a photo (even an imperfect one) because if you lost its negative, you’d also lose that moment in time forever. In this day of digital images and photo printers for the home computer, photographs are easily duplicated, so you never have to be concerned about preserving printed photos. You can cut, color, collage, and camouflage to your heart’s content. The photo is now an art medium that can be altered physically or digitally to create all kinds of effects.

No Fear Transfers If you have never tried image transfers or have experienced image transfer mishaps, then Image Transfer Workshop is for you. This book presents step-by-step techniques for 35 image transfer processes, extensive tips for fixing mishaps and examples of how to combine transfers in finished pieces of mixed-media art. This comprehensive guide features: 35 Techniques: This book focuses exclusively on making transfers—from simple tape and gel medium transfers to more complex and out of the box techniques, like solar silk screens and plastic wrap transfers. Troubleshooting: Image Transfer Workshop includes extensive answers to help fix problems in transfers gone wrong. You'll learn what to watch for, what to do to get great transfers every time. Dual Styles, Dual Approaches: The authors' different styles illustrate how transfer techniques can take on completely different looks. Finished pieces of art for each technique and a section of completely stepped-out projects are sure to inspire you! Let Image Transfer Workshop help build your image transfer confidence.

In The Power of Pictures book and companion DVD, Beth Olshansky introduces teachers to her innovative art-based approach to literacy instruction. Widely practiced in classrooms across the country, the model has been proven by research to improve literacy achievement with a wide range of learners, especially those who struggle with verbal skills. At the heart of her approach is the Artists/Writers Workshop. Through study of quality picture books and hands-on art experiences, students learn to visualize, “paint pictures with words,” and ultimately create their own extraordinary artistic and literary work. The book and DVD explain how any teacher can successfully use this process to enable all students, particularly low performers, to make dramatic gains in both reading and writing.

“Pays tribute to the ubiquitous, universal, and highly user-friendly Sharpie marker . . . The heart of the guide is the many short creativity exercises.” —Library Journal Bold and sharp, brilliant and vivid, Sharpie markers can be found in art, office, and stationery supply stores, drugstores, mass-market and crafts chains—almost anywhere writing utensils are sold. Sharpies can be used on virtually any surface, from the traditional (paper and canvas) to the unexpected (fabric, plastic, ceramics, glass, wood, stone, metal). In addition to the original fine point version, Sharpies are produced in five tip widths, several formulations, and in more than thirty colors, plus silver metallic. Their familiarity, accessibility, and clean, bold, dense line—especially the graphic impact that can be achieved with classic black—have made Sharpie markers the go-to medium for creatives of all stripes. In Sharpie Art Workshop, designer, artist, and art director Timothy Goodman explores Sharpie writing products, the materials and supplies that can be used to enhance or modify them, and the range of creative techniques and effects that can be achieved. Through a series of examples and exercises, Goodman demonstrates how to make different kinds of marks, patterns, and images on a variety of surfaces. Inspiring works by noted artists from all over the world who use Sharpie in interesting and innovative ways are also included. Sharpie Art Workshop offers ideas and inspiration to anyone who’s looking to explore the creative potential of this exciting medium. So when you make your mark, what will you create? “Slim and unique, this ‘catalog of inspiration’ enthusiastically celebrates the mighty marker.” —Publishers Weekly

This is where painting meets collage! You can create beautiful art with amazing depth and texture, using easy collage techniques and paper you paint yourself. Popular workshop instructor Elizabeth St. Hilaire makes it fun and simple no matter what your skill level! Start with materials you probably already have--fluid acrylics, stencils, a few household items and paper--and hand-paint your personalized paper palette using basic techniques anyone can do. Then move through each step of composing your own work of art. You'll find beautiful, meaningful examples of the how and why on every page. You'll learn how to: develop your composition, how to work with simple shapes, important lessons on value and much more. • More than 30 techniques for painting your own decorative papers • Step-by-step instructions for creating your own painted paper collage–from underpainting and directional ripping and tearing to auditioning your papers and combining collage with mixed media • A spectacular gallery of paper paintings to inspire and dazzle--still lifes, figures, animals and landscapes

In Pencil Art Workshop, artist and illustrator Matt Rota shows to achieve various techniques using graphite, and includes the work of an international gallery of artists for inspiration.