Walter Foster kits have been a mainstay in our homeschool for some years now. The materials are high quality, in amounts generous enough to get you through the projects in the accompanying instruction guide, and usually have some left over for our own creative efforts.
The Acrylic Painting Kit contains ten tubes of acrylic paint, two brushes, a palette, and a palette knife, along with a 40-page instruction book to get you started. The level of instruction is suited to someone who has never used acrylics before, but has some art experience. For example, you have to be able to render a passable sketch for the background of your painting. You'll find suggestions for composition, color scheme, using artistic license to come up with a more interesting or attractive picture; however, you should already know some art basics if you want to get the full benefit of this kit.
The instruction book introduces you to the materials used in acrylic painting, discussing the supplies provided with the kit as well as additional materials needed. These are simple things like two jars of water, paper towels, mediums (things you mix with the paint), and painting surfaces (paper, canvas, wood, whatever you decide to paint on, as acrylic is so versatile).
Next, the author discusses techniques used in painting with acrylics. Rather than jumping right into the lessons, I have my students work their way through this discussion, trying out the varying techniques to give them a foundation for the lessons to come.
In a series of seven lessons, the author leads you through paintings that range from a single flower, a still life, a study in light and shadow, and a variety of landscapes. Each begins with a sketch, and from there the painting emerges in stages to the finished product. The directions are rather sketchy (no pun intended), a sort of art shorthand that I've seen on learn-to-paint videos or heard in art classes. That would make this kit frustrating, I think, for a rank beginner. However, someone with some art foundation will find the lessons absorbing and the results pleasing, even if (like mine) they don't completely resemble the model paintings in the guide.
Walter Foster's Acrylic Painting Kit is recommended for ages 13 and up.
Beginning Homeschooling - EHO Lite
Thank you for visiting Beginning Homeschooling. We hope you found the homeschool resources to assist you in starting your journey into homeschooling.
