Art

Art at Messiah Lutheran Classical Academy is an integral part of the curriculum. It is designed to teach the fundamentals of classical drawing and the elements of art (line, shape, color, form, texture) and to be part of the whole cloth of the history curriculum. The students are exposed to art works and artifacts from the period of history they are studying, and the works they themselves create are often done in the style of that time. This gives them a greater appreciation for the artifacts themselves, the people who created them, and a more well-rounded view of the time period under study.

Through art, students are better able to understand the ideal and ideas of those who have gone before. As they progress through the years, they absorb bits and pieces of art history and style and learn the great ideas and thoughts of past cultures through history and literature. In time, each develops his own style and way of communicating his own ideas to the world of today.

GRAMMAR STAGE

Grammar students participate in an experiential study of the elements of art (line, shape, color, form, texture), drawing (pencil and charcoal), and beginning painting. Sample projects include clay modeling, illuminations, mosaics, fresco painting, paper mache, Grecian urns, medieval illuminations, one and two point perspective, and still life drawing.

LOGIC  STAGE

Seventh grade logic students are enrolled in an Introduction to Art class. In the fall semester, each element of art is dealt with individually and more exhaustively than in the grammar stage. The projects become more challenging and require more thought and advanced planning. In eighth grade, the first semester is spent working on a similar course of study centered on the principles of design and culminating in the creation of a mobile that deliberately utilizes all of the elements and principles in a three-dimensional project.

The spring semester in the School of Logic art classes explore the periods of art corresponding with the periods of history being studied. The students will be given a variety of projects designed to teach new art skills, reinforce the art history lessons, and exercise the student’s creativity.

ART HISTORY

Art history and appreciation are woven through the art curriculum, beginning in Kindergarten.  Most new projects begin with slides of famous and not-so-famous works from past masters.  Beginning in the second grade, the slides work in conjunction with each class’ history period.  By the end of sixth grade, students are familiar with the major art movements from Gothic to Impressionism and have studied at least 30 different works from those periods.  The study of the great Masters and art movements continues through our School of Logic.

Our Art work is published online at artsonia.com!