Bright Ring is very proud to introduce its first "full-color throughout" publication, just packed with original children's art and fabulous art images of the work of great American masters.

This creative collection of over 75 easy art appreciation activities celebrates the greatest American artists of all time, including Grandma Moses, Dale Chihuly, Ansel Adams, Maya Lin, Wolf Kahn, Georgia O'Keeffe, Currier & Ives and many more. Special bonus art options for the very young artist are included. Each child-tested activity presents a biography with full color artwork and techniques covering painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, architecture, and more!

Bright Ring Publishing, Inc. has been publishing award-winning art activity books for children since 1985. MaryAnn Faubion Kohl (that's me!) is the primary author or co-author of all the books we publish. My titles, which include Scribble Art, Mudworks, Mudworks Bilingual Edition, Good Earth Art, Science Arts, Storybook Art, Discovering Great Artists, and Great American Artists for Kids, have captured the imaginations of children, teachers and parents worldwide. I also write books for Gryphon House, Inc. including the titles Preschool Art, Cooking Art, Global Art, MathArts, Making Make-Believe, and The Big Messy Art Book. Some of the awards my books have received are:

• First Place, Arts Appreciation Category, Practical Homeschooling Magazine, 2002

• Mayor's Art Award in the division of Education and Support, Bellingham, WA 2001

• Director's Choice Award 2001 for Big Messy but Easy to Clean Up Art

• 1999 Gold Award for Best Parenting book from the National Parenting Publications

• 1999 Top Ten Award from The Education Source

• 1997 Directors Choice Award

• Numerous Benjamin Franklin Gold and Silver Awards for excellence in independent publishing

• 1995 ALA Best of the Best Books and Media for Children

• 1993 Washington Press Communicator Award

I believe that art is an adventure and an exploration of materials and ideas. I like to say "Art is a Process, Not a Product". Children have only themselves to please as they drip, smudge, glop, glue and sculpt their way through hundreds of open-ended art ideas. The art activities in my books have unlimited creative possibilities with no right or wrong way to create and no set rules or expectations for outcomes. Process art expands the creative experience and awareness of children in all aspects of the visual arts through painting, drawing, printing, sculpture, architecture, and other manipulations of art materials. The activities in my books work well for all ages and abilities.

I founded Bright Ring Publishing, Inc. in 1985 when I published my first book of independent art experiences for children, Scribble Cookies. My background began as an elementary school teacher, later a college educator and educational consultant, and now author and publisher. My interest in children's creative art comes from my years teaching kids from preschool through middle school, teaching kindergarten enrichment and college level courses, and consulting with teachers and parents throughout the world. I love everything creative with children, and art seems to be the thing I love best.

While growing up in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and later on Bainbridge Island, Washington, my favorite things to do were art, music, reading, and especially playing outside. I treasured my box of pastel chalks, my Indian Princess bicycle, and my brunnette Ginny doll with a trunk full of doll clothes. Now that I've grown up, I live with my husband in Bellingham, Washington where I raised my two grown daughters. And you know what? I still enjoy playing outside! When I'm not writing or publishing, you'll find me reading, skiing, working outside on our property, playing Frisbee with my dog, or enjoying some family fun. Consulting in the schools, offering workshops around the world, writing for Parenting Magazine, and guesting on numerous television shows keeps me busy year round. But it's writing my books and spending time with kids that makes me happiest of all.