Painting on A Canvas: Art Adventures for Kids »

Debra Spina Dixon is a native of Northern California, who has been creating award-winning illustrations for eleven years. Her colorful work has appeared in numerous national publications and advertising campaigns. Currently, she lives in beautiful Portland, Oregon, with her husband, two children, and faithful dog, Remi.

Painting on a Canvas encourages kids to draw, paint, shape, and cut, and provides entertaining activities to bring out the budding artist in every kid! With easy to understand instructions on everything from how to paint with watercolors to creating sculptures with clay, kids will learn how to create their own masterpieces, no matter the medium. Comprehensive material lists allow adult helpers to gather everything in advance for their little creators. Painting on a Canvas also includes spotlights of famous artists, such as Pablo Picasso and Michelangelo, along with kid-friendly discussions of art techniques, such as pointillism and negative space. There are even tips for more advanced young artists to expand their skills. These activities will help paint a smile on every kid's face, and foster a deeper understanding of the arts.

Chapters include:

Daring to Draw

Painting Pleasures

Paper Art

Clay Creations

Three-Dimensional Art

Children's Literature

This small book is filled with easy projects and introductions to famous artists. Annie Wheeler's art adventures encourage children to try projects, including drawing, painting, paper art, sculpture, and 3-D art. Some of the projects would be great for Scout meetings or party projects. Colorful illustrations on each page add to the ease of using the book. Each project has a "what you need," "start your art adventure," and sometimes a boxed inset suggesting a variation of the project or additional information about an artist. An introduction to Van Gogh includes information about his "Starry Starry Night" painting followed by a project entitled "Van Gogh's Sky," which discusses how feelings and emotions can be expressed through painting. There is an illustrated "Glossary," as well as a large list of "Websites to Visit," including artists, museums, cartooning, and color websites. Reviewer: Debra Lampert-Rudman

Each project is fun, easy to make, and teaches important art concepts. Besides creating fantastic art, you'll also learn stories about famous artists as well as different art techniques. Grab some paper, glue, pens, and paints. Art adventures await you!