Arty Facts

Hey, do you need a way to get your kids 

turned on to art? 

'It is better to present an explanation in words and pictures than solely words.' 

-Dr. Richard Mayer, Psychologist, University of California, Santa Barbara

Painting A Picture With Words

How about telling them  a story about an artist when introducing a lesson? Stories are central to who we are. They cross the barriers of time, past, present and future. They allow us to experience the similarities between ourselves and others. It's also been proven through brain scans that your brain is stimulated and becomes engaged when you tell stories. 

Listening to a story and showing a visual are a very powerful combination.

We recall information much better when multiple senses are stimulated at the same time.  If your showing an artist's painting and telling a story about the artist or their painting, it's like a double whammy in making connections. 

I've seen it! When I tell my students some quirky story about an artist's life or art work, they're sitting on the edge of their seat listening to what happens next.

So here are some Arty Facts that I've compiled about various artists. They're little tidbits and stories that helps art come to life. That way the somebody who painted that picture or created that sculpture seems real! Not some old guy or lady relegated to some musty, old art book.

Above is an Arty Facts about Henri Rousseau

Check 'em out!  Here are my first five Arty Facts. They're free printable pdf's. Click on the link and print them out! They include facts about Rousseau, Munch, O'Keeffe, Picasso, Escher and others. 

Here are some more printable Arty Facts pdf's. They include facts on Romare Bearden, Albrecht Durer and Mary Cassatt. There's also a fact sheet about Da Vinci's Last Supper and Warhol's Campbell Soup Cans.

More Arty Facts pdf's! They include Klimt's painting of Adele Bloch-Bauer,  and artists Jacob Lawrence and Grandma Moses.