Artistic Pursuits was created by Brenda Ellis and covers art appreciation, art history, and hands-on technique across twelve books spanning preschool through 12th grade. Younger levels (K-3) include 36 short weekly lessons, each pairing a brief video with a hands-on project using real art materials — watercolor crayons, charcoal, graded pencils — building toward more advanced techniques at each stage.
The curriculum reflects an underlying Christian worldview, though it isn’t overtly presented until the junior and senior high books, where articles about artists and their historical context touch on it more directly. Each book is designed to take roughly a full school year, and while books are labeled by grade range, families can often use a single book across several children, since younger-level books work fine for older students wanting to build foundational skill.
What Families Love
Genuinely comprehensive — spans the entire K-12 span with one consistent, sequential approach.
No art background needed to teach; lessons are short and scripted for the parent.
Award-winning, with first-place recognition across multiple grade categories from 2006-2020.
Real art materials and techniques, not just craft-level activities.
Flexible enough to use one book with multiple children at different ages.
Things to Consider
One of the pricier art curricula, especially if buying supply packs alongside each book.
Underlying Christian worldview present, more explicit at junior/senior high level — worth knowing for secular families.
Requires purchasing real art materials for each unit, adding to the ongoing cost.
The publisher has updated the series structure over time, so families sticking with an older edition may find some inconsistency if mixing versions.
Honest Reviews. Real Families. Better Choices.
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