Author Focus: Jean Van’t Hul

I’m so excited about being a part of the creatively brilliant Jean Van’t Hul’s, The Artful Year blog tour!

Jean is passionate about kids’ art and creativity and wants you to be passionate about them, too! She believes creativity, is one of the most important skills of the 21st century, and that it starts at home. Her new book, The Artful Year: Celebrating the Seasons & Holidays with Family Arts and Crafts will help you to encourage your kids to be their best, most creative selves.

A Bit About Her…

Jean drew and painted her way through childhood, then went on to study art history and studio art at Wellesley College. Her first jobs after graduating were at an art museum and an art magazine, although she later left the art world to work in nonprofit development.

After her first daughter was born, her interest in art was revitalized and she realized that she wanted to raise her in an art-rich environment and to encourage her creativity and imagination as much as possible. She started a toddler art group with several other moms and their toddlers. They met weekly and did everything from body painting and papier maché bowls to printing with flowers and making their own puffy paint. Jean started The Artful Parent blog to chronicle and share the experiences with the children’s art group, and as a way for her to focus more on what it means to to be an artful parent. If you are interested in starting your own group, make sure to check out some of her tips.

Her Books

The Artful Year: Celebrating the Seasons & Holidays with Family Arts and Crafts

The Artful Year takes you through the year with many creative ways to celebrate each of the seasons and holidays with arts and crafts, food, picture books, and more. It includes over 175 family-friendly activities and provides wonderful ideas for family activities that are creative, yet easy to do together.

The Artful Parent: Simple Ways to Fill Your Family’s Life with Art & Creativity

Winner of the 2013 Family Choice Awards and named one of the Amazon Best Books of the Year, this book provides the tools and inspiration to provide an art-rich environment that encourages children’s creativity, imagination, and self-confidence. You can read my review of it, here, it’s a classic!

Her Blog: The Artful Parent

Besides writing books, she also writes a blog, The Artful Parent, where she shares ideas, information, and inspiration to encourage you to enjoy and share art with the kids in your life. She posts simple and fun children’s art activities as well as her adventures in the kitchen and outdoors, children’s literature she loves, and creative play ideas.

You must make sure to visit her…