Let’s Do School Art Workbook: The Fundamentals of Art

The curriculum effectively balances structured technique lessons with creative exploration, particularly in the final section where students develop original artwork.

Students begin with tracing and copying but progress to creating their own drawings, and pages 270 to the end focus entirely on student-created art projects with sketching, thumbnails, and independent artwork development.

The curriculum provides structured instruction in fundamental art techniques including line work, value creation, color theory, and texture development.

Students learn specific techniques like creating 3D effects with values, Op Art creation, grid systems for copying images, and color mixing using both traditional (red, blue, yellow) and printing (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) color systems.

The workbook format limits direct instruction capability, relying instead on written explanations and visual examples for student self-direction.

The curriculum 'works well for parents with a single student in the lower grades and for older students working independently' and is designed as a workbook where students learn through practice assignments rather than teacher demonstration.

Art history content is minimal, with only brief mentions of artists in relation to their works rather than comprehensive biographical or historical context.

The review notes that Perryman 'introduces students to a few artists, but these are brief mentions relating to their works rather than biographical sketches' and includes some public domain older artworks along with various art movements like Op Art and Pop Art.

Teacher support appears minimal, as the curriculum is designed primarily for independent student use or basic parent guidance.

The review indicates the book 'should be easy and practical for homeschoolers' and works for 'parents with a single student,' suggesting it's designed to be self-explanatory without extensive teacher training materials.

Art vocabulary instruction appears limited, with focus on practical application rather than explicit terminology development.

The review mentions concepts like 'positive and negative space,' 'focal points,' 'warm, cool, and neutral colors,' and 'values' but doesn't indicate systematic vocabulary instruction.