Providing a platform for children to find out their artistic ability, Drawing with Mark the television show has been released on DVD. The simple style with down to earth drawing techniques puts teacher and artist on the same plane. If you feel your child has the motivation or would like to see if they have any interest it’s an economical way to expose their creativity.
Mark Marderosian is a professional illustrator who has put together a television show that aims at the youngsters. He uses rudimentary drawing methods by taking simple subjects that children can understand. He uses animation to make his program child friendly while he brings them to places where he can find subjects from stores to draw. It’s an excellent way to get the child acquainted life through art.
In the DVD titled Drawing with Mark: Something Fishy/A Day at the Aquarium teaches about fish and how they are drawn on paper following a visit to the Wood Hole Science Aquarium. While there they get to see different kind of water animals. Mark features a turtle, a sea star and a seal in this DVD. In a special bonus on the DVD, Mark shows how to make a fish using origami.
In the second DVD just released called Drawing With Mark: Good to Grow and Life on the Farm he teaches children how to draw animals following a trip to a local farm. The children will be able to see how to draw a barn, a cute little pig, a tractor and a sunflower. The bonus shows how to make a horse puppet.
Each of the DVD’s comes with bonus features of drawings that are interesting and fun to do. They also include a booklet with a drawing to color and how to draw the elements using a grid. The lessons are each 30 minutes long and the child can draw along using pencils and other artist tools like crayons. If you watch and help the very young that show interest, you can pause the film while you show them how to work with the various elements. Second and third grade children who have had a little art exposure at school should be able to work with the videos themselves.
The presentation may be a little too kiddy friendly for beyond the 6th grade as Mark does have a Mr. Rogers kind of delivery. He has simplified his show for the very young so the older children could probably feel it is youngster targeted. But, do not be discouraged; always try as the real benefit is exposure to art.
Specifications and additional film information:
Cast: Mark Marderosian
Created by: Mark Marderosian and Robert Palmer Jr
MPAA Rating: Unrated, All Ages
Genre: Family, Educational
Running Time: 60 minutes per DVD
Video Release Date: October 8, 2013
Language: English
Format: DVD
Audio: Monaural
Video: Square Format and Widescreen for Televisions 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio
Subtitles: none
Number of Discs: 2 titles sold separately
Distributed by: Shelter Island
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
