Art & Numbers

I came across a book called  "I Spy : Numbers in Art".*

I think a good card game could be made from it by taking the 20 (or just the first 10) pictures and giving them to the children to sort into number order 1 to 20 (10). Children would not be told which objects formed the basis of the 1 -20 (10) although some clues or keywords should be provided. They would need to examine works of art, count objects in the paintings and keep or reject some of their choices. The task would need perseverance.

Stanley Spencer - St Francis and the Birds

Pablo Picasso - The New Year

Later children can actually discuss their feelings/opinions of the works of art. They could explore more paintings and create their own games based on paintings.

I have come across two other I Spy art books " I Spy : Animals in Art" and "I Spy : Transport in Art" which might be useful.
Other children's art books that I would recommend are:-
     Art for Baby (2008) Templar Publishing ISBN 978-1-84011-99-2
     Looking at paintings : Flowers by Peggy Roalf (1994) Belitha
            ISBN 1 85561 315 8
     The Art Book for Children (2005) Phaidon Press ISBN 0 7148 4511 6
     Great Painters by P. Ventura (1984) Kingfisher Books
            ISBN 0-86272-123-7
and the Dorling Kindersley artist monographs.

* I Spy : Numbers in Art. (1993) Devised & selected by Lucy Mickelthwait. Collins ISBN 0-00-664298-5
   I Spy : Transport in Art. (1996) Devised & selected by Lucy Mickelthwait. Collins ISBN 0-00-664580-1
   I Spy : Animals in Art. (1994) Devised & selected by Lucy Mickelthwait. Collins ISBN 0-00-664407-4