Book Review:
In “Nurturing Children In The Visual Arts Naturally,” author Spramani Elaun shares her wealth of experience as a visual art teacher specializing in the sensory method of teaching art lessons. Drawing from over 30 years of teaching thousands of children, Elaun delves into the essence of how children develop into creative thinkers and makers.
Elaun’s approach revolves around the understanding of three sensory areas of children’s artistic growth: cognitive memory, visual perception, and the refinement of fine motor skills. By carefully honing in on these elements, she sheds light on the natural progression of children as they evolve artistically.
This book marks Elaun’s inaugural venture into sharing her innovative teaching methods that diverge from conventional practices commonly found in schools and art colleges. Through years of naturalistic observation, Elaun has crafted a methodology that focuses on teaching drawing and painting skills to children by aligning with the growth of their sensory system.
Overall, “Nurturing Children In The Visual Arts Naturally” offers a refreshing perspective on nurturing creativity in children, making it a valuable read for parents, educators, and anyone passionate about fostering artistic development in young minds.
Book Highlights:
Art Skill Development: Learn how kids get better at art
Visual Perception and Art Skills: See how seeing things helps in making art
- 7 Principles Guide: Discover the 7 important rules for helping kids with art.Age Phase Guide: Get tips for different ages on how to help kids grow artistically.
This book is great for anyone who wants to help kids get better at art!
Book Table of Contents:
Part 1: Journey to Discovery
- Chapter 1: Introductions
- Chapter 2: My Observations Lead To Method
- Chapter 3: Child, Visual Arts & Artist
- Chapter 4: Fine Art Instruction
- Chapter 5: Fine Art All Wrong For Kids
- Chapter 6: Experts, Non Experts Today On Childhood Visual Art Learning
- Chapter 7: Elex’s Drawing Story
- Chapter 8: Elex’s Story Brings Revelations
- Chapter 9: Identifying Creative Mode Artwork
Part 2: Freeing The Imagination
- Chapter 10: Methodology, Principals, Phases & Parts To The Method
- Chapter 11: Cognitive “Mind/Brain” & Fine Motor Growth
- Chapter 12: Visual Perception
- Chapter 13: Nurture The Naturalistic Child
- Chapter 14: The 3 C’s Curiosity, Creativity & Child-Led
- Chapter 15: 3 Phases of Development
- Chapter 16: Buying Art Supplies
- Chapter 17: Art Supply Safety & Non-Toxic Truths
- Chapter 18: Colour Theory
- Chapter 19: Art Therapy
- Chapter 20: Digital Multi-Media Arts For Children
- Chapter 21: Art Topics
- Chapter 22: The End Of The Rainbow, Conclusion
Book Excerpts:
Opening Page
To a young child, exploring through play is simply natural. Children collect knowledge and gain a sense of their physical world through their senses of seeing, smelling, tasting, touching, and hearing. The excitement a child experiences while dipping a brush in paint and creating strokes of colour is a curious mixture of the senses! Visual art exploration is a natural way for children to explore and learn and it can come in many forms: doodling, painting, colour, sculpting, crafting, and many other visual art forms.
Many books have been written on the subject of teaching visual arts to children, which use traditional fine art to facilitate lessons. This s not that type of book. Here, I offer a new way of teaching visual arts. This new way of thinking will open your eyes to a child’s natural creative abilities. The Nature of Art For Kids® Methodology and proven method is based on these ideas: 1) Freely allowing a child to use intuitive thinking while making art, 2) Allowing ideas and creative expression to develop with abilities appropriate to each child’s developmental stage, 3) Not disturbing the curious evolution a child undergoes while exploring, and 4) Not burdening a child with adult ideology about how to be creative.
What Part 1
Part one of this book will take you through the journey how I came to the conclusion young children should learn visual arts naturally, part two will explain why and how to nurture visual arts.
Why should visual arts be part of a young child’s life? Making art is a natural way to communicate. Emotions can be expressed during the process of making art or the final message in artwork. From a beginning idea to a completed art project, the process is good for a child to experience. Visual Arts is a great way to explore a child’s creativity. Our physical earth and daily life is a bounty of colorus and light, art is a great way to explore colour. Art making provides limitless colour and form. Making art is a great way a child can develop fine motor skills. Visual Arts can bridge a child to the natural world. Visual Arts in a young child’s life can be positive for healthy growth.
This book is available in paperback, ebook and digital
Read Five Star Book Reviews Here!
This book is the new “must have” resource for teachers and parents alike. I hope Ms. Elaun has many more books in the works. “Nurturing Children in The Visual Arts Naturally “ gives the visual arts their proper due as an antidote to what ails our children in this age of focus on “teaching to the test”. Even in these times of high tech and low touch, communication is connection and hands on learning is essential for proper human development. This book will teach you just how to encourage this full potential via the visual arts. This brilliant book should grace the shelves of every school and home library as a timeless resource for positive child development.
Marga Schneider-Munoz, MD, MPH
Book Review
A well thought out and needed book written by artist, art teacher, entrepreneur and homeschooling mom. With many years of experience nurturing children in the arts. Both of my girls have enjoyed Spramani’s art classes and collaborative community projects over the years. She shares her knowledge and experience in this book through many years of being around and teaching children of all ages to learn art naturally.
Always at their pace and interest level. This method flows so naturally, especially for my homeschooled kids. This book outlines not only the “whys” of why it’s good to nurture children in the arts with her method. But some wonderful examples as well. She’s put a lot of thought, research and time into creating this book to help others facilitate this method of learning art naturally for their families. Really enjoyed the book and wish it much success. Also, my girls and I love her paint products and love knowing that they are safe!
Mandy Sicard
Book Review
I am a Montessori teacher educator and mother to two homeschool children. I met Spramani Elaun last March at the American Montessori Society Annual conference in Dallas and purchased her book, and some of her art materials. Since then I have been immensely inspired by her method as it is aligned with the Montessori principles. I have been applying it with both of my kids at home and have seen such a success! “Nurturing Children in the Visuals Arts Naturally” is not just a book is an inspiring teacher’s guide for homeschool or the classroom.
H. Lil Simon
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