Art Book Give-Away * 3 WINNERS ANNOUNCED! *

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

 ... and the WINNERS are ... 

Cathy Wilson - Mudworks

 Christina Spencer  - Storybook Art

 Jenna Freck - Great American Artists for Kids 

Winners:
Please send your mailing address to my email
                 [email protected]
and your books will go out in the mail right away! 

* Note:
The winners were chosen by a blind random drawing 
in the offices of Bright Ring Publishing.
Names or entries of winners or other particpants 
will never be used for any other purpose 
without their express permission. 
 

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S ! 

_{. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .}  

Cathy Wilson said:

I already have your Great Artists books and I use them for my junior high art classes. AND I would love to have MudWorks. As a child, I didn't have much confidence in making art, but I do remember finding a side yard that had been recently seeded. To my ten-year-old mind, it looked like the perfect place to make some designs. I didn't have a clue about seeding! I got shovels and a garden hose, and carved out a beautiful city with bridges and rivers and tunnels and buildings. As I recall, my parents didn't punish me for this, even though it ruined their seeding job. I remember the huge delight of running water through the muddy waterworks!

Christina Spencer said:

MaryAnn, I would love to have a copy of your "StoryBook Art". I'm an Artist and Art Educator trying to develop a curriculum to bring art to all ages at our local Arts Center. They have never had classes for the toddler/preschool age. I'm starting up a class called ARTventures: A Story + Art What a Great Start to an ARTventure! I love the age group! I taught toddlers at a daycare for 4 years and have a 2 year old at home. I was hired at the Arts Center as an on site Artist and Education Coordinator. Your book would give me ideas for so many stories and art projects to play off of! I love the teaching about story telling, visual literacy and illustrators as working artists. I hope that it will inspire them to create their own stories.

Jenna Freck said:

I completely enjoy your books. I'd love to have Great American Artists for Kids - I've checked it out from the library twice and renewed it twice...so many fabulous projects and I love that the kids drew the portraits of the artists! All of your books are awesome. My mom, a very creative soul, was always making things when I was small, and I remember when she put a paintbrush in my hand when I was two, walked me over to my easel, and let me paint away, while my dog Blazer licked my ear, looking over my shoulder. Another time she let me help make huge paper mache animals that were as tall as I was, from the messy mache time to painting the spots on the giraffes she made... Also there was this great after school art class at a studio right at school called "Cloud 9 studio" - where my teacher gave us big balls of clay and we made these cool 'matterhorns' with tunnels that traveled through them, and he'd start a marble at the top and we'd watch in suspense as it traveled to the bottom...endless fun. I remember making tickets for the airplane, and pretending to be a passenger on board, making all of the things you'd need to make the flight comfortable, etc...all creating, imagining... Then when I turned 10, Mom signed me up for an oil painting class with her friend Louise. It was there that I leaned that I loved to paint, and catch facial expression and paint portraits of people, and animals. The rest is history...

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Dear *ALL* Blog Participants ~

How I wish I could give 215 books as prizes, because that's how many childhood memories were shared during this contest! The time you took to go back into your childhood memories and share those moments with us is truly appreciated. I had no idea that your memories would be so powerful and moving. You had me laughing and crying as I read through each one. 

I hope you enjoyed the experience, and if you have time, do read through all the comments because they are inspiring (and entertaining at times)! I think more than anything your memories of your own art experiences as a child remind each of us how important we are in the lives of the children we touch, and how the things we do, the opportunities we offer, the way we interact... it all makes a difference.

We matter!  :)

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 

Thanks to each and every one of you for participating
and sharing your childhood memories of art!

 

And special congratulations to Cathy, Christina, and Jenna.
I hope you each enjoy your prizes! 

 

 

MaryAnn   
(1950)

Comments

[MaryAnn F. Kohl, art book author]

The Winners Are:

Cathy Wilson - Mudworks

Christina Spencer - Storybook Art

Jenna Freck - Great American Artists for Kids

Please contact me by email, [email protected], and give me your mailing address. THANK YOU and CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

[Cygnetsmall.wordpress.com]

Discovering Great Artists. (Can I pick a different book for each submission? :))

I remember drawing to music in my kindergarten class. We were given colors and a huge sheet of paper and allowed to choose the color and movements/shapes/marks that we felt with the music. Our teacher was wonderful and she really let us focus on process, it was a great start to nurturing my love of art.

[Cygnetsmall.wordpress.com]

First Art. I've heard such great things about it but haven't managed to actually look at a copy yet!

I have so many art memories -- one of my favorites is sitting around my grandma's table with my brother and sister picking out fabric scraps, bits of lace and ribbon and making Easter eggs to be hung on a branch at Easter time. My mom still has these eggs some 30 years later and brings them out every year. They have been loved and cared for and hold a special place in our family history.

[Emma Ostlin]

My first “artistic” memory from childhood (and it’s one of my very first memories in life for that matter!) is an incident from when I was about 4-5 years old.
Me and my cousin were playing alone upstairs in our house when we spotted a big, fat, blue marker. Inspiration struck us and we started to doodle ALL OVER in two rooms; on the wooden floors, on the heating elements, on the walls, on the windows, on the furniture and even on my bigger sister’s belts we had borrowed without permission.
I remember hearing my father’s footsteps coming up the stairs as if it happened yesterday. Only THEN I realized what we had done!
It is interesting how something creative like that can make a person get carried away and forget the whole world around them. I guess that’s what’s called “spontaneous” or “free” art…
Anyway, I would love my children to express their creativity, just in a slightly different way… If I win, we’d LOVE to get the book “Mudworks”.
I have already ordered “First art: Art experiences for toddlers and twos”, “Preschool art: It’s the process, not the product”, “Preschool art: Craft & Construction” and we are anxiously waiting for them to arrive!
Thank you!

[Account Deleted]

The book, StoryBook Art would be a great addition to my elementary school library!!! My favorite childhood memory was cutting construction paper and making hats out of paper and newspaper. My mother was very creative and encouraged my sisters and I to create at the kitchen table. After we finished our hats the 5 of us would proudly walk around the block! Ahh yes memories...

[Cathy Wilson]

I already have your Great Artists books and I use them for my junior high art classes. AND I would love to have MudWorks. As a child, I didn't have much confidence in making art, but I do remember finding a side yard that had been recently seeded. To my ten-year-old mind, it looked like the perfect place to make some designs. I didn't have a clue about seeding! I got shovels and a garden hose, and carved out a beautiful city with bridges and rivers and tunnels and buildings. As I recall, my parents didn't punish me for this, even though it ruined their seeding job. I remember the huge delight of running water through the muddy waterworks!

[Michele]

Big Messy Art - I remember the giant tub of crayons we had. The bucket was in the kitchen, very easily accessible.

[Michele]

Big Messy Book - In kindergarten we made ginger bread houses over milk cartons. I remember covering mine with candy. Last year when my son was two I tried to do the same thing with him. He loved pouring sprinkles over it.

[Michele]

Art with Anything - My grandmother and I made a paper maiche smurf house. I used to play with doll house type stuff a lot and it was fun to use the smurf house and other stuff I built.

[Michele]

Art with Anything - This is making me reflect on really good memories of my grandmother this week. She bought me some furniture for my dollhouse one time and then together we made new linens for the beds.

A few years later we were on a long car trip and I was so proud. I figured out how to sew a set of doll clothes myself. I created the outfit.

[Ellen Cole]

I remember finger painting with my little brother and getting him in trouble!
Primary Art

[Ellen Cole]

Primary Art is the one I have chosen. I took art classes because my mother thought I had hidden talent! I drew a picture of our family and had very specific details in it, like earrings on my mothers ears and bracelets on her wrists, etc.

[Mary Cassenti]

primary art-- we are now making NEW art memories with my daughter. one of my freshest memories right now is the day she started calling any random collection she would put together a "collage." then she'd start finding random bits and bobs and telling me "mommy! i need that for my COLLAGE!" her enthusiasm for new materials is contagious and we are both constantly on the look out for things that would make great COLLAGES :) recently we worked for nearly 2 weeks solid on mermaid dolls that were mixed media/collage... they turned out GREAT!

[Mary Cassenti]

Primary Art-- another memory i have is converting a simple white bookshelf into a dollhouse. my dad was always giving me random office supplies and one day he brought home a bunch of cardboard cardstock (very thick and brown like a cardboard box). i used it to make furniture which i decorated with all sorts of all craft supplies. i added fabric curtains to the windows (which i made and taped around the house) and bed covers... i even made paper dolls and little clothes (again fabric). my favorite accesory was a popcorn bowl (sculpted from cardboard) filled with crunched up yellow construction paper popcorn. second? the croquet court i made on top of a piece of green felt for the "lawn." my dollhouse even had a working elevator (just like my friends barbie dream house!).. my parents had NO idea i was doing this when i would hole myself up in my bedroom closet all weekend for a few weeks straight. my dad discovered it and insisted i give him a house tour which he video taped. after all was said and done? i THREW EVERYTHING AWAY!!!! i suppose it really was about the process!

[Kim Murphree]

I would love Great American Artists. I have checked most of your books out of the library to work on with my own kids. During our homeschool day, art is our favorite subject and one we all do together. My favorite memory of art as a child is painting with a paint by number set my grandmother gave me. It gave me such a feeling of accomplishment. I enjoyed every minute of it. Thank you for your books, they make art so exciting and easy to teach.

[Mary Cassenti]

Primary Art!!! We checked it out from the library and it was AWESOME-- chocked full of great, accessible ideas (we checked out all your books they had and they were all very cool, but this was my favorite...though i'm very curious about the great artists and american artist ones (our library didn't have those)

I have sorta a strange "art memory" that was the first thing that came to mind when i read about this contest...I remember being in art class in the second grade when they announced the challenger disaster over the intercom system. we were doing something we did ALOT during "art" class in 2nd grade-- "free drawing" on manilla paper. i don't know what i remember the "manilla" paper part... that seems to really stick out... i guess that was our "everyday paper" and free drawing didn't merit nicer paper?

[Cyndy]

One of my favorite art memories happened when I was five. My father entered my portrait of my brother that I had drawn into an art contest. I won the under six category and received an owl pencil holder. I still have the portrait of my brother and it was only within the past few years that the owl pencil holder broke. I had the pencil holder for 35 plus yrs. Winning this competition gave me such pride in my work and it really made me feel like an artist. I would love to receive "Scribble Art' for my kindergarten class. Actually, receiving any of your books would be wonderful

[Cyndy]

I grew up with a father who was an artist by night and an advertising man by day. He stressed upon us five children that art was free expression and that a coloring book was not really art. Yes, we did have coloring books but we did not get them often. Rather he gave us blank paper to make our own coloring pages. He was so proud of our work that we would have our own art shows at the house. He also exposed us to many art galleries and art shows. As a kindergarten teacher I look for ways to not rely on coloring pages for art. I don't like when everyone project looks the same. I may give out the same materials and talk about the process but I cherish each creation made. I would love to get the book "Art with Anything."

[Tisha Smith]

Great American Artists for kids....
In first grade we made candles. We used the bottom square of a milk carton, filled partially w/ one color wax, put in some ice cubes, then filled again w/ another color of wax. I thought this was fabulous!

[Nyree Yali]

When I was in Primary School, we published a class book of stories, poems & art. Half a dozen of us had to meet with the publisher & learn the process of writing, illustrating & publishing a book. One of the boys in the group had nominated me to join because he admired my artistic talents & felt I would be perfect for the job. I was very shy at school & often teased, but that was the first time a peer had gone into bat for me. Some 30 years later, I am still thankful to him for seeing that in me as that moment had such a huge impact on my feeling of self-worth.

I am now homeschooling my 6yo daughter & she'd happily spend all day creating works of art (when not cooking or dancing). We already have some of your books, but as she's getting older, I'd love to win 'Primary Art' for her. We went to an Aboriginal art workshop recently & the woman running commented on how artistic my daughter was. Just by being exposed to new techniques, she was producing amazing work like I'd never seen her do. I hope by winning the book, I'm able to introduce different techniques to develop her natural talents further. I know from experience how much of an impact early artistic experiences can positively affect so many different areas of adult life.

[Tisha Smith]

I would love Great American Artists for Kids:
Many of my favorite art memories involve holiday art. I think that's because Christmas was the one time the teachers would definitely do art w/ the class. One time we made giant poinsettias w/ cards my teacher had recycled from the office. I loved the big flower I made.

[Tisha Smith]

I would love: Great American Artists for Kids.
I remember choosing a poem in 6th grade and illustrating it. My poem was about Geese and I was so proud how my flying geese turned out in my picture.

[Spaghettibelly]

Thanks for this drawing - my favorite art memory is making a fabric pillowcase with my cousin. There was some applique involved and she doted on me for every step of the process. What a blast!

[Spaghettibelly]

Hello - To introduce myself, I'm Jen Noble and I am looking at your Storybook Art because I help out in my daughter's classroom once a week. She'll be in 4th grade this year!

[Feralartist]

I really could use this book for my Kindergarden art students. They absolutely love to make stuff they can take home. This would really thrill them! Oh-the book is: Craft & Construction

We would make a lot of drawings and home made play-dough at home. Once I decided my Barbie needed a record player. So, I made a 3-d record player, along with the arm and needle out of cardboard. It was a copy of my record player with the lid, too. I was kind of embarassed about it. But, when my girlfriends found out about it, I took it to their house and they loved it!!! Then they started making 3-d things for their dolls. The stores didn't have all the things for Barbies back then, that they do now.

[Feralartist]

This sounds interesting enough and so if you choose this comment, please let me win:
Math Arts

In sixth grade, my friend Bernie and I volunteered to do a bulletin board for dinosaurs. We got to use every different color of construction paper we could find! We cut out many different dinosaurs and had 3-d plants and a volcano of course. We didn't know about the meteor theory then, or we would have made it too! Then we wrote a play to go along with the mural. Our class liked it so much, we were asked to do an Ocean mural!

[Feralartist]

If you choose my name out of your hat, I would like to win this book:
Discovering Great Artists

I was lucky in elementary school, because my art teacher taught me painting lessons one day a week. My first oil painting was of a flower. I was so mad he wouldn't let me use black paint. He said he was from Mexico and black paint was bad luck! For a long time, I was afraid to use black paint even though I was from Pennsylvania!

[Aneta James]

When I was a little girl I did a lot of art projects with my mom. I remember that we created a little home theater. All the “actors” were spoons and forks dressed in scraps of colorful materials and had hair made of wool :)

I'd love to win Mudworks.

[MaryAnn F. Kohl, art book author]

Only 3 days until the drawing! Post as often as you like. Each time you write a childhood art memory, you add to your chances of winning.

By the way, these posts are just amazing. Thank you!

[Erica Kimmel]

I would love to win Preschool Art. When I was in grade school we had an art teacher whom we were all afraid of. She would often yell at us and I remember dreading art class. Needless to say, I try to make art a fun experience for the kids that I work with!

[Feralartist]

Little did I know that spending the night at my cousin Bernie's house would prove to be so cool. We had exhausted everything we could do and were sitting around thinking. Then her mother came up with a great idea. We both were writing a book report together about Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. She suggested we make a Mrs. Piggle Wiggle doll. We were both perplexed because we never made a doll before so luckily she helped us to cut out the patterns and sew the clothes by hand. Her Mom had the most incredible button box! Mrs. Piggle Wiggle awed all our classmates when we presented our book report.
I would like to win: Primary Art

[Feralartist]

Betsy McCall was one of my favorite paper dolls to play with. I remember waiting for my mom to get her McCall's magazine in the mail. Then, we would cut Betsy out and her dresses together. Sometimes, I would draw my own clothes, making sure they had the little tabs that you bend over to attach to the doll. My clothes were usually too big or too small. But it didn't matter what size, because I had designed my own clothes for my paperdoll , Betsy, to wear.
I would love to win Storybook Art.

[Feralartist]

Great American Artists is a book I want to win. When I was in junior high, I took Saturday art classes at Carnegie Tech in Oakland, Pa. I would have to ride the bus for 13 miles into PIttsburgh, then transfer to another bus to get to Oakland. There were probably 600 art students from all over Pittsburgh taking this class in a huge auditorium. We would stand in line to get our boards, paper and box of crayons and then go in line to our seat. The instructor would stand on stage and instruct. Then after we made our artwork, they would pick out 6 students to recreate their's on stage. It was funny because only boys were chosen to go on stage. Anyhow, the helpers were college students. One of the boy's names was Andy. Can you guess who he was?

[Feralartist]

In first grade, I made a drawing of a little girl throwing paper scraps. It was for a Litterbug Contest. I was very surprised when my poster won. My prize was a Grass Growing Kit.
I remember thinking that was a very odd prize for making art! Anyhow, the day the grass finally sprung up out of the ground in the plastic container, creating a very soft, magical green carpet was very special. Iloved the sight and smell of new grass ever since!
I would like to win this book: Science Arts.

[Feralartist]

I would love to win the new Art with Anything book. One of my favorite earliest art projects that I remember was when I was in summer school around 6 years old. We colored wax paper with crayons and then rubbed vegetable oil over it. Then we put it in between some dark construction paper-like a frame so the light would shine through- and hung it in the windows. They were awesome!

[Feralartist]

Good Earth Art is one awesome book I would love to win for my art class. I like to teach my art students how they can make artworks by using recyclables and things from nature.
This book would be great to have for ideas around time of our Science Fair, too!

[Gina Villarreal]

When I was in fourth grade, we were given scraps of sandpaper, and crayons. We colored the scraps of sandpaper really hard with crayons, and then they were ironed onto a white shirt to take home. We were allowed to use as many pieces as we wanted, and I remember enjoying the texture of the sand paper, and making many designs like tye-dye, swirls, flowers, patches, and smiley faces. If we were only given one scrap of sandpaper, I don't think the experience would have been quite as enjoyable.

[Gina Villarreal]

One year, for Mother's day, we made decorative bottles. First we filled them with dried flowers, herbs, and what-not. Then we filled them with clear oil, and put a stopper in them. We were allowed to pick the fillers, and decorations for our bottle, so it was very personal. I picked red flowers, because those were my mom's favorite, and a beautiful twine/ purple ribbon to decorate the outside of the bottle. This was used to decorate our kitchen for many years, and it smelled lovely!

[Gina Villarreal]

Mudworks:
As you have read by now, I loved to draw. When I was in fifth grade, I would doodle the alphabet in bubble letters, and practice drawing them in different fonts. I started a fad in making name-plates, and pretty soon, everyone was asking me to draw their name for them.

[Gina Villarreal]

My brother is an artist...he draws portraits, mostly, but he is artistic all around. He's also 12 years older than me, so he has been an inspiration for me to practice the art of drawing. I remember asking him how to draw birds, clouds, faces, eyes, hands...I would flip through his notebooks, and try to replicate his doodles. To practice, I would rip pictures out of a magazine, and practice replicating the picture over and over again. In class, I would often draw the backs of student's heads, desks, chairs, and doodles of the teachers. Drawing is still a form of stress relief for me, and it's mostly due to my big brother's influence.
I would love a copy of Mudworks...thanks!

[Gina Villarreal]

Mudworks, please. :)
One day, we went to my mom's friend's house to visit. She was making a pinata for her son's birthday party, and asked me to help! I was very excited to be a good helper, and diligently ripped and dipped each strip into the flour/water paste to stick onto the balloon. It was the first time I had ever learned about pinatas, and how they were made. Looking back, I feel used. haha...but at the time, I sure had fun!

[Gina Villarreal]

When I was in 5th grade, we were given a piece of cardboard, aluminum foil, a toothpick, and colored sharpies. We were supposed to follow step-by-step instructions for making a mask. I was so engrossed in the process of wrinkling the aluminum foil and placing it on the cardboard that I missed a step or two. I just started making it up as I went along.
When the art teacher walked by my desk, she scolded me, "Aren't you paying attention?" However, because I didn't do it "right," mine was the only unique mask in the bunch. I even got a compliment from a friend who I considered to be the most artistic boy in the class on how "cool" my mask looked. :)
Mudworks would be perfect for my classroom! Thank you for this opportunity to get a free book!

[Gina Villarreal]

Oh (this is getting fun!), I remember using markers to draw a picture/ word on notebook paper, and then squeezing glue over the picture. I would let it dry, and peel off the glue. It turned into a sticker, and we would do this over and over again!
Sometime during this process, I would rub glue in between my hands, and pull them apart over and over again. I also liked waiting for the glue to dry, and peel it off my hands. If you did that, you could make an exact replica of your fingerprints! Come to think of it, I think this explains why I'm so big on "sensory" in my classroom!
I am in it for Mudworks!

[Gina Villarreal]

One year, we were given several shades of paint, brushes, and paper. Our guest art teacher taught us how to first dip the brush in one color, and dip the tip in another color to make a duo-color print. I used the new technique to draw a bouquet of beautiful flowers.
I have read Preschool Art, and I loved it! Thanks for visiting my blog today (Play-based classroom), and leaving a comment on our painting with flowers experience. I would love a copy of Mudworks, so I can learn how to incorporate more 3D art into our classroom! Love your work!

[Gina Villarreal]

When I was in 3rd grade, we had a guest visitor come to the classroom--a cartoon artist for the local newspaper. In that half hour, she taught us how to draw three popular cartoons: Bugs Bunny, Garfield and Tasmanian Devil (from Looney Toons). I loved the lesson so much, that I would practice drawing them over and over again. I now use my gift for drawing cartoons in my preschool classroom...especially at Halloween!
By the way, I would love a copy of Mudworks!

[Gina Villarreal]

When I was a in second grade, our teacher had us draw a picture of a friend. I picked my best friend, who also sat right next to me. During circle time, we shared our pictures with the class. After sharing time, she explained that when we draw, we unconsciously draw something similar to our own faces. In my example, I drew long eye-lashes. This stuck with me for a long time, and to this day (I'm 25), I still love to draw faces.

[Rhonda Asencio]

As a recent graduate in early childhood education, I would love to win Storybook Art for my classroom library! One of the goals for my classroom is to incorporate the arts through-out the curriculum. Storybook Art would help me guide my students as they explore literature through art. One of my fondest childhood art memories is from 1st or 2nd grade when I was presented with a square of clay from which to create a bowl. I proudly presented my masterpiece to my mother, who 30 some years later, still proudly displays my creation in her home!

[Majordan]

I would love to win Art With Anything! My favorite childhood art memory was always creating construction paper window designs for each holiday with my Mom. The window was a huge picture window so it was perfect for this! My Mom always had construction paper scissors and glue and those three items have always been my favorite art materials. As an elementary art teacher, I always had my students do plenty of projects with these materials! I remember getting my first set of markers too and how much I loved them!

[Jennifer Berger]

My memory is one reason I embrace process art. I was 4 and in preschool. We were given meat trays glue and paper. We were apparently supposed to make a sunset over water. I made a whole yellow circle for my sun instead of a half circle. I was reprimanded and the teacher had to "fix" it. I was ashamed.

I'd love Art with Anything.

[MamaPeaPod]

Thanks for coming over to Mama Pea Pod and leaving a comment today! I will send out a 'tweet' to send people over to your giveaway. I only wish I were eligble to enter too! I have heard a lot recently about your books and am dying to get my hands on one!

Hi, Mama. You can enter if you are in a different country, as long as you are willing to pay the shipping should you win. Hope that explains things a bit.

[MaryAnn F. Kohl, art book author]

Drawing in 6 days!!!!

182 comments as of today. I'm saving them all in a "hat", and before long, I can draw out the winners.... on July 20. If you want to know who the winners are, be sure to check back at the end of the day (I'm west coast time) to find out. And then I'll need those people to send me their emails so I can get their private addresses to mail the books to (USA only).

[Michele]

Art with Anything - I remember my mother came home one time with a couple of huge catalogs, from a sewing store I think. I would spend hours, flipping through them, cutting things out and making paper dolls and dollhouses.

Also, I had an invention drawer when I was little. I loved going to the Children's Museum and coming home with a bag of odd recycled materials. I created so many things with the random objects.

[Mikyn]

The boy across the street was a year younger than I was. One day when we were probably 3 and 4 or so, we got the idea to take a bucket of thick mud and "paint" it all over my front door and porch. It was delightful, but when we stepped back to take a look at it, we realized maybe it was a poor choice and ran away. We then tried to lie to my mom when she asked us how it could have gotten there (small muddy handprints everywhere, big mystery). That's my first memory of my parents' big emphasis on "it doesn't matter how bad it is, just tell me the truth and we'll face it together." (I am sorry I lied, and sorry I chose the door as a canvas, but the mud painting was fantastic...)

[Mikyn]

I spent a tremendous amount of time growing up outside with a book called "Mud Pie and other recipes" which was written like a detailed cookbook, but using all things I found in the yard and the woods. The writing made the entire process something to be savored. My fondness for that book transferred easily to my enjoyment of your books!

[Mikyn]

In kindergarten, we pressed our hands into a heart-shaped slab of clay to make a handprint which was left white and we painted the rest of the heart red. I loved seeing the lines of my palm and fingerprints remain in the clay. My mom hung it up and for years after, I'd try to fit my hand back into the small handprint.

[Mikyn]

In first grade, we used an upended glass dipped in black paint to stamp rings all over paper, then watercolored faces on each. I remember being fascinated by the result, this one piece of paper with so many emotions looking back at you (also I included myself, my parents, my brother, and our cat). It was one I hauled out of the pile of childhood art because I loved looking at how I saw the world then. My inlaws have a framing gallery and so I had it framed for my parents and it's on their wall now.

[Mikyn]

I have a hard time choosing which book of all the amazing choices, but I guess it'd be "Art With Anything" since I've only given it as a gift and haven't played with it myself yet. Your books save the day on rainy dreary days, and inspire playgroup activities for us. Thank you for so many fantastic ideas! My kindergarten and first grade teachers both went on to be artists, and seeing their work on gallery walks as an adult has been fantastic. They were just working with a different medium when they worked with us, I guess, but isn't every child an art project? Introducing my toddler to my 1st grade teacher at one of her shows (and she was doing silk painting demos for kids even there) really made me realize how much time had passed.

[Michele]

Art with Anything would be great.

My grandmother was an artist and I have great memories of making art with her. One time we made maracas with light bulbs and paper mache. With my cousins we also did masks of the three pigs and wolf. We had those in our costume box for years.

When she did some work on her house and had left over tiles she thought of a project for the grandkids to make with them.

In my set of Christmas ornaments I have a set of paper ornaments that we made when I was little. We cut different shapes from wrapping paper and also made snowmen with different facial expressions.

When I was a little older I spent time trying oil paints in her studio and doing pastel drawings in the garden.

Now I am having fun exploring art with my three year old.

[Monique Pyylampi]

3 now? How wonderful! "Good Earth Art" - reading someone else's memory sparked another one of my own. I was in 1st grade and we made antlers out of traces of our hands. Then we painted part of an egg carton red and attached strings for a Rudolph nose. All of us performed Christmas songs for our parents in our artwork!

[MaryAnn F. Kohl, art book author]

I am blown away by your stories! I wish I could give every one of you a free book. WAHHHH. I am now going to give THREE books instead of one. July 20 is almost here! Check back to find out if you won. I'll make a big announcement on the blog, on Facebook, and on my website. If you didn't include your email, that will be the only way to find out if you won.

[Kim Smythe]

I would love a copy of Storybook Art! I teach PreK and this book covers many of my favorites! I need some new art ideas.
I remember my favorite art teacher in 8th grade. She thought everything we did was great and so I did too. I try to remember that as I teach. My favorite project was covering a coffee can with a collage of pictures, and then shellacking(sic) over it. It looked antiqued and I was just fascinated with it! I had that can for YEARS! I still remember that she always called me the cat lady because i always drew cats. Thank you Ms. K!

[Michelle Habrych]

My favorite art/craft projects as a kid, which I started up again when I was a pregnant mom wanting to make something for my new baby, was latch hooking. I made lots of wall hangings and pillows. Still like to do that sometimes. :)

[Michelle Habrych]

For about a year, my mom paid for us (my sister and me) to take art lessons from a friend's mom. I remember that is where I first used Cray-Pas (oil pastels) and drew my first still life. My mom still has some of our artwork from that class framed!

[Michelle Habrych]

I remember making ornaments as a child-- we made clothespin reindeer, painted "stained glass" ornaments, melted little crystals in wire frames and hung them (can't recall the name of these), painted ceramic figurines.

[Michelle Habrych]

Another early art memory is gluing macaroni onto paper. :)

[Michelle Habrych]

I would LOVE "Art with Anything" please! I teach my homeschool group using your art books!

My early art memories include drawing my own Garfield comic strips. :)

[MaryAnn F. Kohl, art book author]

I am blown away by the depth and joy of your experiences. Thank you for sharing! The drawing is now only 8 days away. I'm going to give more than one prize. Three?

[Kim Wolke]

My elementray school art teacher (Mrs. Kringle) was VERY eccentric. I remember her very New York sounding voice, her funky outfits, and her wild black hair. She was also a shorter woman. The art room was so much fun because we could spill things and it was okay! It was in the basement of our very old stone school building. The room had really high ceilings and alot of pipes running all over the ceilings and walls. We sat at stools at large square tables with wooden tops. WOW! I haven't thought about that in forever!

[Kim Wolke]

I also remember in my elementary art class decorating a large bottle (wine bottle?) with pieces of tissue paper dipped in glue. I'm sure there's a name for this. It was alot of fun!

[Kim Wolke]

When I was in 1st grade, I won first place in a bookmark contest that we all entered through our art class. My bookmark was a peanut that I drew, cut out and colored and wrote "I'm Nuts About Reading!".

[Kim Wolke]

Since I have a 3 1/2 year old and am expecting another baby in 8 weeks, I'd love to have the Pre-School Art book to use with both girls.

[Paulacohen.blogspot.com]

Great Artists. I am just starting to teach art classes from home and I am in need of some fantastic ideas. So glad I found your site. I have so many early art memories. One of the earliest was my fascination for illustrations and design. To this day the book May I Bring A Friend by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers sticks in my mind as one that I would stare at and try to replicate. The drawings were magical and the colors combinations were so lovely. The others were Anatole by Eve Titus (illustrated by Paul Galdone) and Jennnie's Hat by Ezra Jack Keats. I would spend hours in my room trying to replicate these drawings and creating books of my own.
My other strong memory was never considering that you could buy a Halloween costume. I would make mine every year, often making them for friends as well. I remember using large cardboard boxes and making my best friend and I into mustard and ketchup containers. One year I turned myself into a TV and drew a dog food commercial on the screen.Unfortunately I'd made antennas for my head and people thought I was a dog. I was seriously bummed out.

[Jennifer Gerwig-Dively]

I love art class in high school. The teacher was a hoot- we never used "street pencils", only mechanical pencils because he preferred the constant point... and NEVER an eraser. Once we'd learned how to use a pencil, then street pencils/art pencils were acceptable but it was better to sharpen them by hand with a blade, not a pencil sharpener. :)

[Jennifer Gerwig-Dively]

I'd love to win Preschool Art for my son

[Melissa Price]

I would love storybook art. I am teaching a 5-7 year old homeschool class called Literature based art, and have been cobbling up a bunch of lesson plans, and lo and behold, I discover your book, blogs, lesson plans. I really want this!! Thanks for the opportunity.

[Jenie59]

Let me see . . . I already have Mudworks, Science Art, and signed edition of First Art, so I'll take a copy of "Art with Anything", please.

My first solid memory of feeling "artistic" does not involve painting, or sculpture, or drawing, but rather it is about music. Like all of the children, I went to music class as part of my first grade experience and, lo and behold, I opened my mouth and I could actually sing - and good, too! I remember the experience so vividly, almost as if I could see the musical notes floating out of my mouth and around the room in wild abandon. I could *sing*! I remember the feeling of exhilaration as the teacher smiled at me and I could tell she approved. Here was something I was good at without even trying and it felt so wonderful! This experience led me to sing, sing, sing all the time. I joined every chorus I could and even when they were making us wear silly little bunny ears and hop up and down on the rickety stands, it just felt wonderful to me!

[MaryAnn F. Kohl, art book author]

9 days until I draw the winning name! http://maryannfkohl.typepad.com/blog/2011/07/art-book-free-give-away.html

[MaryAnn F. Kohl, art book author]

Here's a negative memory of my own:
Mother's Day was coming. First grade. We were asked to bring a bottle or jar to make into a vase for our moms. I talked it over with my mom, and she went to a lot of trouble to find a blue vase...perhaps from a milk of magnesia bottle or vicks vaporub. I just know it was special. The teacher kept all the bottles on her desk and called us up one at a time to put a decal on the bottle. My turn. I chose a duck. She said it wasn't a good choice that my mom would rather have a flower. I thought it over and agreed. So I chose a rose. Then the shock::::: She slipped it into the water, let me help place it on the vase, and then she slipped the covering away. I did almost nothing!! I was so disappointed, so disgusted! Although I gave it to my mom, I told her it wasn't very special and that I didn't like it much. My mom was pretty sensitive to what kids were all about, and she didn't make a fuss. She told me she loved it and kept it in her window sill with little flowers in it for several years. I came to love it because I loved her. But I didn't love the way the teacher handled me or this project. It still makes me feel unhappy when I remember how much I loved my mom and how I wanted to make her something really special.

[Amy Jones Griffeth]

Storybook Art: Kindergarten was the first time I remember getting the opportunity to paint with total freedom at an easel. I can remember the fun of taking big strokes with the brush and filling that paper up with my picture. Painting at the easel was messy by nature so I didn't feel the same angst as when I was trying to color with a crayon... painting was joyful!

[Amy Jones Griffeth]

Storybook Art: I'll share a negative story... I can remember going to a pre-kindergarten screening and I was supposed to color in basic shapes on a paper and then cut some out too. I remember I colored outside the lines and I remember the teacher making me feel like a total failure at coloring. It taught me that the things I say to a child can really stick because this experience stuck with me. Took me a long time and a lot of hard work to finally feel like I could color appropriately.

[Amy Jones Griffeth]

Storybook Art: I remember going to a fun summer school program at our elementary school. A mom taught us how to paint with water colors. Like I said before I really felt inadequate when it came to art but having her explain and demonstrate I felt like I could do it, and I remember feeling joy while creating a little water color flower garden.

[Amy Jones Griffeth]

Storybook Art. Thank you for this chance to think about my early childhood and to win one of your wonderful books! I am the 5th of 6 children and 4 of my siblings are extremely artistic. I always felt like the non-artist in the family. I loved to find any way to show my creativity. I remember when I was in 2nd grade our teacher showed a movie (not a video - a real movie). It was a movie that taught finger-painting techniques. I was mesmerized by it and paid close attention to all of the tips and advice. I learned how to make my picture look like the ocean with waves and all kinds of creatures in the sea. Now, I'm a preschool teacher and a mom and I've taken those things I learned a long time ago and showed other children. I guess I'm an artist after all!

[MaryAnn F. Kohl, art book author]

I thought I would share a few of my art memories too. I can't tell you how much your stories mean to me. Thank you!!
Art Memory 1!
I was about two or three, standing on my bed, drawing with crayons in both hands in huge circles on the wall at the head of my bed. I filled it with every color I had in my box. My mom came in and was so perfect about it. "My goodness! What a big drawing! Next time, no coloring on the walls. I'll give you some paper." And that was that. Of course she did repaint, and that made me sad, but she did give me paper, lots and lots of paper.
Art Memory 2!
I was coloring in a coloring book on my wood floor, a crayon in one hand and a popsicle in the other. The next thing I knew, I was coloring with my popsicle and sucking on the crayon. It wasn't intentional. But I remember that I was very surprised, fascinated, and pleased.
Art Memory 3!
Play School at the neighbor's house next door, no mommy there, about age 3 or 4, and I stayed for a whole hour one morning a week. My mommy walked me over and walked me back. We also had a snack during that one hour -- milk and crackers. We had clay and my neighbor lady, Mrs. Petrie, showed us how to flatten it to look like a slice of bread and then cut it into little squares just like French toast. It was confusing and exhilarating, and I loved every minute of it.

When I was little, we learned from our mommies and neighbors and grandparents. There was no school and no daycare and no kindergarten for that matter. When it was time to learn to read in grade one, you picked up a book and the teacher taught you how to read it. Otherwise, we were playing outside and sometimes drawing on our walls.

[Monique Pyylampi]

"Good Earth Art" - What a fantastic idea for your blog! I had a very nice time recalling those memories I shared. I chose the book I did because I want to pass the love of art onto my son. The idea of using natural materials and earth friendly stuff is in line with my parenting and life styles. We want to teach recycling and eco-friendly habits. Thanks!

[Monique Pyylampi]

"Good Earth Art" - I used to love to color in those posters that came with a cheap set of markers that you could find at Michael's craft store. The more detailed the better. I loved the ones with fantasy themes.

[Monique Pyylampi]

"Good Earth Art" - In school at Halloween time we had to cut out a jack-o-lantern face from a tortilla. They were then fried and sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon and we got to eat them. My memories are so sparse but for some reason that one stuck!

[Thechildhoodlist.blogspot.com]

For the past 10 years i have been an art teacher using many of your books in my classroom. This year i have decided to make a change and stay home with my two little girls. Which means i have to start a whole new collection of your books! I recently purchased "First Art" but would love to get the "The Big Messy Art Book" because at my house we love anything that involves the words messy and art!

[Monique Pyylampi]

"Good Earth Art" - My mom took me to many different kinds of classes as a kid. I tried cooking (which I like then and still do!), tumbling (which I was never good at), and art. I don't recall much about the project because I was so young but I remember feeling like this, ART, that was for me.

[Monique Pyylampi]

"Good Earth Art" I remember getting in trouble a lot for drawing on the walls in permanent marker! Why on earth were there so many where I could reach them anyway???

[Monique Pyylampi]

I would like a copy of "Good Earth Art." I recall my mother making me homemade playdough. I loved to hold the playdough when it was still warm and soft. I loved the smell.

[Scottsbricks.blogspot.com]

I remember my mother making play dough for us. For years I thought she was the most wonderful person on earth because she could make play dough. (That wasn't the only reason!) She would get out her cookie cutters so we could use them to create. Now I get to share the "wonderfulness" when I make play dough for the kids in my class.

[Scottsbricks.blogspot.com]

I'd like to win Art with Anything.

I remember being obsessed with making collages - or "collections" as I called them. I would page through magazines and cut out related pictures, gluing them to piece of paper - to give to my mother.

[Onceasmallseed.blogspot.com]

Okay, I guess I am remembering a few more. My brother had a book on how to draw little figures. I remember trying to draw a penguin. I also remember making a clock out of a paper plate.

[Onceasmallseed.blogspot.com]

Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of art memories. I do however have at least one. I was attending summer school for the first and only time. I loved going to summer school because at the end of the day we got to make different thing. The one thing I remember is glueing different features to make animals faces. I thought this was so much fun.

[Onceasmallseed.blogspot.com]

Ooooo I would love to win "Discovering Great Artist". I am homeschooling my daughter and this would be a great addition to our curriculum. I have wanted to make a lesson plan around artisst without much success. I know this would be a great help. I am crossing my fingers!

[Tracey Neumarke]

I am interested in the book Storybook Art. There are so many fantastic illustrators of children's books. I think it is a great idea to explore that with children.
As a child I spent my Saturdays at my Mimi and Gramps' (grandma and grandpa) place. The bottom drawer of their dresser was all mine. My grandma had all different art supplies in there for me. I would explore and make all sorts of creations. My grandfather was an artist and he did oil paintings. He was an inspiration to me. My grandma was a teacher and she knew just how to encourage me.

[Jenna Freck]

I'd love to own the "Great American Artists for Kids" book...it's awesome!

[Jenna Freck]

more memories - in grade school we had some great teachers who would weave art into the social science curriculum. I remember making a newspaper about the future and having the chance to really illustrate and get into it, that was amazing fun.

[Jenna Freck]

I completely enjoy your books. I'd love to have Great American Artists for Kids - I've checked it out from the library twice and renewed it twice...so many fabulous projects and I love that the kids drew the portraits of the artists! All of your books are awesome.

My mom, a very creative soul, was always making things when I was small, and I remember when she put a paintbrush in my hand when I was two, walked me over to my easel, and let me paint away, while my dog Blazer licked my ear, looking over my shoulder.

Another time she let me help make huge paper mache animals that were as tall as I was, from the messy mache time to painting the spots on the giraffes she made...

Also there was this great after school art class at a studio right at school called "Cloud 9 studio" - where my teacher gave us big balls of clay and we made these cool 'matterhorns' with tunnels that traveled through them, and he'd start a marble at the top and we'd watch in suspense as it traveled to the bottom...endless fun.

I remember making tickets for the airplane, and pretending to be a passenger on board, making all of the things you'd need to make the flight comfortable, etc...all creating, imagining...

Then when I turned 10, Mom signed me up for an oil painting class with her friend Louise. It was there that I leaned that I loved to paint, and catch facial expression and paint portraits of people, and animals. The rest is history...