My Favorite Resource Books: Art & Creativity

We’re big fans of “process” creating around here – enjoying the doing and not necessarily worried about the finished product. We also enjoy making crafty things for holidays and gifts, but for the most part it is all about the experience!

Besides browsing Pinterest and my favorite blogs, I have a small selection of books that the girls and I look through when we need artistic inspiration. {Updated February 2012}

First Art : Art Experiences for Toddlers and Twos

Many of the creating books I use regularly are by MaryAnn Kohl. I love her ideas on process-based art exploration, and her books are full to the brim with easy-to-implement art activities.

I bought First Art when Natalie was two, and we continue to refer to it regularly. It is filled with fun, simple, exciting art experiences for little ones from painting to working with dough to collage and more. This would make a great gift for your favorite toddler, paired with some washable paint and a fresh batch of homemade play dough.

There is a new full-color edition of First Art coming out in April – it’s available for preview and pre-order on Amazon. Looks wonderful!

We also love these MaryAnn Kohl books:

• Preschool Art: It’s the Process, Not the Product
• Scribble Art: Independent Creative Art Experiences for Children
• Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters
• Storybook Art: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of 100 Great Picture Book Illustrators

Art Not Craft: The Process of Learning Creatively by Christie Burnett (of Childhood 101)

Christie’s ebook is a wonderful resource full of process-based art activities for young kids. In Christie’s words:

“Art Not Craft is designed to give you the confidence to embrace art making with advice on minimising the mess factors, simple art making suggestions, materials lists and information about why making art is so important to your child’s learning.”

Whether you consider yourself creative or not, this book will give you practical, fun ideas for experiencing art with your kids.

365 Things to Make and Do by Fiona Watt

This is the kids’ choice winner in our house right now. The girls love looking through this book and choosing a project.

Many of the projects include techniques that can be applied to other art activities as well.

The Usborne Art Treasury by Rosie Dickins

After many library renewals, this book is on our wish list. It contains works of art from various artists, which are then used to inspire projects based on an idea or technique. My girls have deepened their interest in art history after spending time with this book.

We also enjoy using how-to-draw books sometimes. I’ve already written about Our Favorite Drawing Books – so check out that post for more inspiration!

I’d love to hear about your favorite art and creativity books for kids, too!

Related posts:
My Favorite Resource Books: Playing & Thinking
Our Favorite Drawing Books

Tagged as: art, book review, crafts, creativity