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Hello. I have been using your preschool and K-3 curriculum and we LOVE it. My oldest child has always been very interested in art and that excitement has been passed on to my younger two. They see art sets and ask for them for birthdays or Christmas. These sets are in a box or case that has pencils, crayons, paint, markers, etc. Can you recommend a brand of an art set to purchase? I do not want to spend the money on a poorly made set. Thanks for your time and any help you can give me would greatly help with our Christmas shopping!! - J.B.
Dear J.B.,
It is hard to tell people that those beautiful sets contain the poorest art materials made. Your money is all going to the wooden box. The colored pencils, oil pastels, and paints have so much filler that they hardly produce any color. The issue is cost. If manufacturers put good art supplies in those wooden boxes, the price would be so high that they would sell very few. I hope this has been informative, even though it is very disappointing news. Since I teach I have witnessed many youngsters who've been thrilled to received these sets and then not been very happy with the results, especially after having used the good quality art supplies we suggest in Artistic Pursuits. When it comes to art supplies, good color equals higher costs.
If I were to put together a Box for my child I'd include:
Wooden box: sold at art supply stores to hold tube paints in. They are even unfinished so your child could paint a picture on the outside or you could finish and seal it in any creative way you choose.
One LARGE set of CRAY PAS oil pastels (because they aren't expensive, but are good quality, so you can get more colors)
One PRANG watercolor set (basic red, blue, green, yellow, black, etc., not washable)
One set of 12 Prismacolor Pencils (These are worth the higher price, so get a small set if cost is an issue.)
Pentel or other brand of colored Markers.
One eraser, pencil sharpener and a few Ebony pencils
One good nylon brush, round (The brush in the Prang set is badly made)
Some appropriate paper pads, which aren't in the wooden box sets.
The box set may not look as tidy, but your kids will have FUN using good materials! Merry Christmas!
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