Promote kids' creativity with Harptoons drawing books- review/giveaway

When your kids come home with a school art project, do you panic?  I can look a painting or photo and explain the artistic qualities, but I couldn't produce that piece. When I put pen (or pencil) to paper, my creation looks like a giant scribble (and not in a good way). I want my kids to have the tools to express their creativity. No parent wants to look a her son's project and say what a great horse riding into the sunset, when he drew a octopus in the ocean. Fostering a child's creativity is important to their develop. I've found the tools to make drawing fun and easy, Books by Steve Harpster of Harptoons.

Steve Harpster has created a series of books that show kids (and adults) an easy to understand way to draw. Based on letters and numbers, everyone can learn how to create a variety of creatures. The four books in the series are Drawing Animals with Numbers, Drawing Monsters with Letters, Drawing Seas Animals with Numbers and Drawing Really Cute Baby Animals with Lower Case Letters. From these series of books you will definitely be ready for the next school project.

My kids love to draw and create, but we occasionally get stumped on how to draw an animal like a puppy or lion. Kids don't want a hugely detailed, realistic interpretation of an animal. They want to create a picture that tells a story. By following the steps in the Harptoons books, you will show everyone that you have a creative side.

I started my kids on the Drawing Animals with Numbers book. We flipped through until we found an animal each child wanted to draw. At first, they were sure that their picture wouldn't look like the book (they were too young, not good enough, etc). So, we got a bunch of paper out and cleared off the kitchen table. My oldest son chose a gorilla, which is based off the number 3. It didn't matter that his finished product wasn't an exact copy, but his version looked like a gorilla. He added some extra hair, bigger ears and a banana. By following the steps he was able to achieve his goal to draw a gorilla but still express his individuality in the drawing.

My other son is more of a rules follower. He chose the lion, which is based on the number 11. He painstakingly drew, erased and drew again till his picture was an exact (or very close to it) replica of the pictures in the book. Knowing him, he will show his ability to his art teacher in school. We will be seeing a lot of lions in his art class.

The best part about these books and the techniques is that it is easy to follow. Everyone can write a letter or number. With the addition of a few lines and embellishments, you have a great picture. Now when you're at dinner where you can draw on the table cloth, everyone will be impressed with your creativity. No one has to know your little secret.

Harptoons also has iphone and iPad app to share these these drawing techniques. We love our technology devices in our house, which makes these apps fun for long downtime and traveling. The Drawing Animals with Numbers app can be purchased at the iTunes store for $1.99.

Do you want your children to explore their creativity?  Steve Harpster of Harptoons has graciously offered to give one of my readers a Harptoons prize package. Please use the Rafflecopter to enter.

Keep your kid engaged and their creative juices flowing this holiday season. Give them the encouragement to express their imagination on paper with the tools from Harptoons.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway



Disclosure: I received books to review and giveaway. All opinions are my own.