I grew up playing the traditional Authors and Composers card games. (Who else played those?) They were a great way to pass a rainy afternoon while learning the names of artistic masterpieces and the faces of their creators.
I’ve discovered a modern alternative of those games over at Birdcage Press. Look at these beautiful Renaissance and Impressionist art games! (Find Birdcage on Facebook here and at Twitter as @birdcagepress. Sign up for their free newsletter here.)
About the Art Games
They are card games (not board games) based on the classic Go Fish pattern. Play revolves around making sets of art, all by the same artist. A gorgeous full color book comes with the set of cards and serves as a reference for those questions that normally arise when you play a game.
The cards have a nice thick coating and rounded corners. For many of the cards, only a cropped selection from a work of art is shown on the card (the caption says detail). This cropping is obviously to keep the cards uniform in appearance while showing as much of the art as possible. The book, however, features the entire work of art so that you can find what else is missing from the thumbnail on the card. The artist’s name features prominently along the side of the card. At the bottom is a list of all of his art included in the card game. The piece that is on each card is first in the list and is in bold typeface.
Why would Charlotte Mason love these games?
- they are full of art — full color reproductions of great masterpieces
- the art is always titled and is grouped by artist
- there is no silly twaddle or fluff; just art
- the game includes a living book full of more art and history
In fact, since the book has four to six works of art by each artist, you could use these games as your artist study material for an entire year. For example, the Impressionists art book includes 32 works of art by 8 different artists — 4 works each. The Renaissance art book has 30 masterpieces by 5 artists — 6 works each. With constant review by way of the card game, your children would be intimately familiar with the art and artists in each set.
The book centers on the art and has some explanatory notes about each piece. Brief biographies of the artists are at the front of the book along with an overview of the time period and a timeline.
Sprite and I have played our games a few times outside of academics time at her request. I guess that is the true test of an educational game. If it is only played with during “school,” I don’t deem it as much of a success. When it passes the evenings and weekends test, it’s a quality product. These Birdcage games pass the test in our home. I admit, we are lovers of art. But games like this make it easier to create an environment that is supportive of art appreciation.
And you can certainly use the Birdcage Press Art Games for artist study in your homeschool. I can imagine using them for
- review or assessment
- introduction & overview
- museum preparation
- reference (especially the book)
Discount Code
Giveaway
Birdcage Press is also offering one of my readers her choice of art game — either Impressionist or Renaissance. To enter, leave a comment here, telling me which one you would prefer. Actually Birdcage has other topics besides art — history and science for example. So in your comment, you can mention something else, but I’ll only be giving away either Impressionist Art Game or Renaissance Art Game. I will choose the winner on Feb. 27, 2012.
For additional entries (leave a comment for each):
- follow @birdcagepress at Twitter
- tweet about this giveaway, including @birdcagepress in your tweet
- pin a photo from this post at Pinterest
- tweet your pin, including @birdcagepress in your tweet
Giveaway Fine Print: Must be 18 or older to enter. Must be an American resident to enter.
Disclaimer: Birdcage Press gave me two free games in exchange for my honest review. I was pretty excited because I had wanted these for a long time!
Other Giveaways
I’ve connected with a group of homeschooling bloggers who are also offering giveaways of Birdcage Press products. Be sure to visit them all and enter for the games you most want to have.
Spell Outloud — Choice of Egyptian Art Cards or Battle Cards-Military Jets
Finding Joy — Choice of Wild Cards – North American Birds or Art Ditto Game.
Mama’s Learning Corner — Renaissance Art Game
Handbook of Nature Study — Wild Cards-Backyard Birds
Harmony Art Mom — Choice of Go Fish for Art or Art Close-Up Cards
The Curriculum Choice — Art Ditto Memory Game
Hodgepodge — Go Fish for Wildlife – Sea Creatures
The Traveling Praters — Choice of Go Fish for Van Gogh and Friends or 52 Amazing Places-National Parks
Get Along Home — Choice of Wild Cards, Backyard Birds or Renaissance Art Game
Alisa says
we would probably go for the impressionist set! thnx!
Jenny Anne says
tweeted the giveaway!
https://twitter.com/#!/RoyalLilLambs/status/172796568594939904
Alisa says
I am following birdcage press on Twitter
https://twitter.com/#!/alisasweetlife
Alisa says
I pinned it to my CM board!
http://pinterest.com/pin/17170042299295423/
Kristina M says
I think I’d choose the Impressionist cards but both seem great. Thanks!
Libby says
What a great game! We’d love to win the Renaissance–that’s what we’ll be studying in history next year and it would be a great addition to our curriculum!
Becky J says
🙂 Oh we would be tickled to win either one…thank you Jimmie for all the inspiration you bring!! Blessings!
michelle says
wow, i LOVE these. i was an art major in uni, and have a 9yo DD who, at four after we kept telling her that she would be an artist some day, said, “i AM an artist.” we would love the Impressionist set. but will definitely be looking at the whole website too.
thanks for all that you do, i’ve been “following” you for quite awhile. we have some similar experiences of the last few years. having lived overseas and now “stateside” (although alaska is far from the “states” in many ways), many of your comments about Sprite resonated with me, as we were going through some of the very same adjustments.
blessings to you! < michelle
RG says
We would love the Impressionist set. Thank you for the giveaway!
Kris says
Oh, these are sooooo cool! I would love either, but probably favor the Impressionist one! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Daniela says
These look great! Would love the impressionist art game.
Sarah says
I would love the Renaissance one! What fun.
Sarah says
And I just pinned it!!
Shannon Morris says
Looks like fun. Would love the impressionists!
Jen Pifer says
I would love the Impressionist set- I am currently working on creating a preschool fine arts curriculum, and these would be a great resource to suggest in my trainings! I would really love to check them out!
Jen Pifer says
I also pinned on Pinterest!
Paige says
Count me in, those look beautiful! I would love the impressionists set.
Melanie says
I would love the Renaissance set!
Cassie D. says
I have been looking for a way to easily start incorporating Art into our days but hadn’t figured out how to do it for a decent price and w/out making it drudgery. This would be an awesome way to spark an interest. I think I would have to got with the Renaissance set if I have to choose although any of their products would be good from what I saw. Thank you for this chance to win.
Kandace says
I’d love the Renaissance art cards. Too cool. I love sharing art with my children and I think they’re never too young.
Ginger says
Oh Jimmie…you share the BEST stuff, the best! You know beggars can’t be choosers and I’d honestly love either set.
p.s. pinned it too http://pinterest.com/pin/236790892877765480/
Janalyn says
I would love the Renaissance game. Looks beautiful!
Amy says
These are so beautiful. I like the Impressionist set. Thanks for a great giveaway!
Amy says
I pinned it – http://pinterest.com/pin/41236152808051153/
Dawn says
I’m not really sure which I’d choose. They both look so wonderful. We don’t do much art here but I want to start incorporating it into our days and these would be a great way to start.
Dawn says
I follow birdcagepress on Twitter
MommyTaw says
I would like the Impressionist set.
MommyTaw says
I just tweeted about this giveaway and I hope that I did it right, as this was my 1st tweet ever! 🙂
MommyTaw says
I pinned it! 🙂
MommyTaw says
Now I tweeted my pin. Done! 🙂