The Art Exploration Kits contain art supplies, replica artifacts, and creative prompts to inspire your patrons’ learning and art curiosity. Each kit offers the opportunity to engage with a range of unique books, activities, and reproductions of well-known and lesser-known artworks in a loose theme. The kits cover:
The contents can be displayed as a sort of small pop up exhibit in a space that allows patrons to explore at their leisure. Or, library staff can use some or all of the materials as a basis of a focused program with a group. All reproductions are based on artworks that are in the public domain and as such can be publicly displayed without permission.
Audience
The philosophy behind the series is that art is for everyone, no matter our age or background. Therefore the kits are not aimed at any one particular group or audience, as almost everyone will find something to interest them if they spend a little time.
Contents
All five art kits contain the following items (plus themed books, reproductions, or other materials outlined further down the page):
- Paper
- 72 Coloring Pencils
- 12 pack drawing pencils
- Art Dice
- Buddha Board & Zen garden set
- Zen garden bowl
- Sand
- Wooden mini rake
- Standard size Buddha Board
- Small ceramic water receptacle for Buddha board
- Brush for use on Buddha board with water
- Mini Buddha Board
- Meditation/singing bowl
- Pixel Art Challenge
- Tracing lightbox and USB cable with plug
- 6 Sand timers (30sec, 1min, 2mins, 3mins, 5mins, 10mins)
- 4 scissors
- 2 glue sticks
- 1 magnifying glass
- 2 lightweight standing easels
- 4 small tabletop easels
- Quotes…Visual Artists
- 642 Things to Draw inspirational sketchbook
- The Art History Coloring Book
- Art Masterpieces to Color: 60 Great Paintings from Botticelli to Picasso
- Clipboard with guidance, contents, and feedback form
In addition, each kit has more materials relating to a theme:
Kit 1 – Portraits, People, and Artists
Reproductions:
- Vincent van Gogh, 1886, by John Russell
- Self Portrait, 1887, by Vincent van Gogh
- Girl with a Pearl Earring, c. 1665, by Johannes Vermeer
- Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting, 1638-39, by Artemisia Gentileschi
- Self-Portrait, Leaning on a Stone Wall, 1639, by Rembrandt van Rijn
- Head of David, 1501-1504, by Michelangelo Buonarroti
- Venus of Willendorf, Upper Paleolithic
- Venus de Milo, 2nd century BC
Books:
- Earth and the Moon 360 Book, by Yusuke Ono
- Van Gogh: The Complete Paintings, by Taschen
- Japanese Prints: The Collection of Vincent Van Gogh, by Louis van Tilborgh
- BLK ART: The Audacious Legacy of Black Artists and Models in Western Art, by Zaria Ware
- Artists: Their Lives and Works, by DK
Kit 2 – Plants and Landscapes
Reproductions
- The Harvest, 1888, by Vincent van Gogh
- A Storm in the Rocky Mountains, Mt. Rosalie, 1866, by Albert Bierstadt
- The Omval, 1645, by Rembrandt van Rijn
- Garden at Arles, 1888, by Vincent van Gogh
Books:
- Earth and the Moon 360 Book, by Yusuke Ono
- Hokusai Pop-Ups, by Courtney Watson McCarthy
- Plant Magik (The Library of Esoterica fourth volume), by Jessica Hundley
- Cyanotypes (Anna Atkins), by Taschen
Kit 3 – Animals
Reproductions:
- American Flamingo, 1838, by Robert Havell, Jr. (artist) / John James Audubon (artist after)
- Whistlejacket, c. 1762, by George Stubbs
- The Sleeping Gypsy, 1897, by Henri Rousseau
- The Goldfinch, 1654, by Carel Fabritius
Books:
- How to Draw 101 Cute Animals, by Sophia Elizabeth
- The Life of Animals in Japanese Art, by Robert T. Singer and Kawai Masatomo
- Art of Nature, by Judith Magee
- Tropical Fish, by David Hawcock – pop up
- Cats in Art, by Susan Herbert – pop up
- Hummingbird Slow-Mo! Flip book
- Tadpole to Frog! Flip book
- Metamorphosis! Caterpillar to… Flip book
Kit 4 – Art Movements
Reproductions:
- The Starry Night, 1889, by Vincent van Gogh
- Under the Wave off Kanagawa (AKA The Great Wave), c. 1830-32, by Katsushika Hokusai
- The Thinker, c. 1904, by August Rodin
Books
- Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks: 1680-1900, by Andreas Marks
- Art: The Definitive Visual Guide, by DK
- Egyptian Art, by Taschen
- Hokusai Pop-Ups, by Courtney Watson McCarthy
- Leonardo Pup-Ups, by Courtney Watson McCarthy
- Pop Up Pop Art, by The Silver Factory
- Renaissance Art Pop-Up Book, by Stephen Farthing
Kit 5 – Color and Light
Reproductions:
- Senecio (AKA Head of a Man Going Senile), 1922, by Paul Klee
- Water Lilies, 1919, by Claude Monet
- The Three Trees, 1643, by Rembrandt van Rijn
- Student at a Table by Candlelight, ca. 1642, by Rembrandt van Rijn
Books:
- What Great Paintings Say: 100 Masterpieces in Detail, by Taschen
- Nature’s Palette: A Color Reference System from the Natural World, by Patrick Baty
- Pantone: The 20th Century in Color, by Leatrice Eiseman and Keith recker
- Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future, by Taschen
- Henri Matisse: Drawing with Scissors, by Keesia Johnson
- Matisse Cut-outs, by Taschen
- Interaction of Color, by Joseph Albers
- The Secret Lives of Color, by Kassia St. Clair
- Hokusai Sparrow Dance 360 Degrees Book, Yusuke Oono
Other:
- CMY optical color cube
- Four color wheels