Ready Set Draw! Aaron Becker’s Watercolor JOURNEY
Aaron Becker’s wordless picture books Journey, Quest, and Return have delighted children’s book readers of all ages with their playful, rich, and majestic watercolor art. Now young fans of the book can learn how to create their own watercolor painting with Aaron. The Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator introduces viewers to basic watercolor tools and techniques on Ready Set Draw!. After just a few minutes children will have a brilliant watercolor painting ready to be displayed!
We’d love to add your artwork to the Ready Set Draw Art Gallery!
Did you, your child, or a student create their own watercolor paintingl after watching this episode? Share your images with us! Post them on our KidLit TV Facebook page OR use the hashtag #ReadySetDraw on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter so we can find you! We can’t wait to see what you’ve made!
SUPPLIES
- Watercolor paint (tubes or cakes)
- Watercolor paper
- Brush suitable for watercolors
- Palette for mixing; you can use a plastic egg tray too.
- Pencil
Many big box and art supply stores sell watercolor sets suitable for small children.
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ABOUT THE BOOKS
Return
Written and illustrated by Aaron Becker
Published by Candlewick Press
Failing to get the attention of her busy father, a lonely girl turns back to a fantastic world for friendship and adventure. It’s her third journey into the enticing realm of kings, emperors, castles, canals, exotic creatures and enchanting landscapes. This time, it will take something truly powerful to persuade her to return home.
Quest
Written and illustrated by Aaron Becker
Published by Candlewick Press
A king emerges from a hidden door in a city park, startling two children sheltering from the rain. He gives the children a map and some strange objects, than he is captured by hostile forces that whisk him back through the enchanted door. Just like that, the children are caught up in a quest to rescue the king and his kingdom from darkness, while illuminating the farthest reaches of their imagination. Colored markers in hand, they make their own way through the portal, under the sea, through a tropical paradise, over a perilous bridge, and high in the air with the help of a winged friend.
Journey
Written and illustrated by Aaron Becker
Published by Candlewick Press
A lonely girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall and through it escapes into a world where wonder, adventure, and danger abound. Red marker in hand, she creates a boat, a balloon, and a flying carpet that carry her on a spectacular journey toward an uncertain destiny. When she is captured by a sinister emperor, only an act of tremendous courage and kindness can set her free. Can it also lead her home and to her heart’s desire?
ABOUT AARON BECKER
Like many American boys born in the wake of the Apollo missions, Aaron Becker decided early on he would be an astronaut. His mother was an astronomy teacher at a local college in his hometown Baltimore. She would take him along on her nighttime field-trips to the observatory; its musky smell relieved with the opening of its domed roof. At some point, he surmised that a career in actual space travel required military training, and this seemed like a lot of work. So he switched gears and started drawing pictures of outer space instead. There was palpable joy in this: creating civilizations and stories filled with a cast of characters of my own design. To be sure, these worlds were reflections of places inside of him. But more importantly, drawing was an immediate path for creating something he could manage on his own terms. These worlds were his and his alone. With a pad of paper and a set of markers, he could pretty much do whatever he wanted. For an eight year old confined by the limitations of his material existence, this seemed like a pretty good deal.
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Watercolor is so much fun and we love watching how the water can do much of the work in surprising ways. Terrific tutorial from Aaron, a master watercolorist!
Watercolors are just so beautiful, Loveable Lobo! Completely agreed on the power of water; a little here, or a lot there can make all the difference.