Category Archives: Menu 1

Today we will create our own drawing inspired by Medieval art history.  As we learn about historical figures of the Middle Ages in class, seeing art from this time gives us a fuller understanding of the period.

Illuminated manuscripts are just one many art forms from the Middle Ages.  They were created by monks, written and colored entirely by hand, and took years to complete.  The drawings are fanciful and beautiful.  Monks created the manuscripts on vellum (animal skin), painted them with pigments, and embellished them with silver and gold.

For today’s project you will need the following:

Materials

8.5 x 11 paper

pencil

ruler

paints or colored pencils

optional: gold or silver marker or paint

First, let’s look at some illuminated letters.  On this Pinterest page you will find a variety of examples.  Some are from the Medieval Period and some are modern.

https://www.pinterest.com/doveandquail/illuminated-letters/

Also, look at this amazing artwork from Tolkien illustrator Benjamin Harff!

http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/902-Benjamin-Harff-Interview-Edel-Silmarillion.php

Once you’ve explored some illuminated manuscripts, let’s get drawing!  Follow along on the video to create your own illuminated letter.

August is almost here!  For me, that means gearing up for the CC year, thinking of creative ways to teach new grammar, and lesson planning for the drawing portion of Classical Conversations.  I love thinking about teaching art effectively.  Art can be overwhelming- “How do I teach others to draw when I don’t know how to draw?!”  But I think art and drawing can be learned just as we learn math or reading.  There are skills and basic knowledge attached, and everyone is capable of learning them.

As I plan lessons for the first six weeks of drawing, I will be connecting some piece of new grammar to each drawing project.  All knowledge is related, and that’s one reason I love Classical Conversations!  It allows us to show students how art relates to science, history, math, etc.  What a beautiful thing.

I am excited about this new venture of blogging, and will post lesson plans soon.  Stay tuned!