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Art Answer (a division of Kit-It, Inc.) Review by Carrie Wilbur
Art Answer (a division of Kit-It, Inc.)406-672-8482
PO Box 50387
Billings, MT 59105
http://www.artanswer.com
Art Answer, as one might expect, is an art curriculum. The DVDs are entitled Move-It with Line, Change-It with Value, Touch-It with Texture, Mix-It with Color, Surround-It with Shape, Distance-It with Space, and Build-It with Form (includes "Put-It All Together" as the third section). Also available are Teacher's manuals for each DVD. I have not reviewed the manuals, only the DVDs.
A little background on me before we begin: I was well on my way to an art degree before being pleasantly "derailed" with my children. Because of my continuing interest in the subject, we often visit museums and galleries and have since the children were very young. We own a healthy amount of art and craft supplies, and at least a couple of us are found nearly daily in some sort of creative pursuit. I "heart" art, most of all the making of it. Given that, my perspective on these DVDs may or may not be similar to yours.
As much as I enjoy art and want my children to love it too, it can be difficult to insert into a homeschool schedule as a structured subject, especially since my students range in age from 6 to 13. There is more to the subject than holding a pencil or brush and doing whatever pops into one's head, as the titles in the series imply. So I'm looking for ease of use (for me and for the children), ability to inspire, technical clarity and correctness, and an approach that appeals to a wide age range.
What is the most appealing point about these DVDs? It's hard to pin down. The creators of this curriculum have gone to lengths to put together material that is easy to use--right down to including supply lists and a reproducible worksheet in each separate DVD case. The terminology they use is simple and straightforward, but it holds the attention of my older and more experienced children as well as the younger two (the package indicates that the material is structured for ages 6-10). The scope and sequence are solid--thorough but not overly ambitious.
This curriculum has won several awards, listed at their website. Given the success we've experienced so far, I look forward to exploring what else the company offers.
My only complaint? The background music isn't my favorite. Still, I'm happy to put up with the minor annoyance given the affection my children now have for "Liney" (a character found in the first DVD) and their delight with this addition to our art stash.
