Bible says, "Don't Cancel our Art Programs!!!"

Tanner: Christian African American Painter

This short vid represents how christian art class can build a child's sense of beauty while affirming their faith.  Tanner stands out as the first African American artist accepted into the Paris Academy.  Modern culture still appreciates this turn of the century artist: Touchstone magazine featured "Flight to Egypt" in their December 2019 issue. 

Homeschool highlights February 2018

We have been tunneled in because of the cold and snow, but these changing seasons open up new possibilities and inspirations.  We get crafty, we want to bake and to explore in books.  We have been fascinated with the winter skies this year since our beginning serious nature study.  For want of plant life we looked up and have been amazed.

 

We have been studying Constable's paintings, the marvelous sky painter.  He was the first to study meteorology and paint skies as they actually were, not copies of Italian skies, or simple backdrops for subjects but the sky in its natural awe inspiring state.  We are using it as a unit study to explore painting clouds in perspective, how light affects the color of blue in the sky, storm predicting etc... I teach Nature Study at Chicago Charlotte Mason Scholars, our co op.  I love learning with my kids and have been so into the science and art of the skies.

 

Bethan and I have finally launched a successful microscope study.   It has only taken me 10 years to figure out how to do this with my kids.   But I collected the supplies--thanks to Amazon Prime and Bethan's urge to check Craigslist and finding the perfect scope! We are using Richard Headstrom's "Adventures with a Microscope" which is old but simple and easy to use.  Each exploration is 2-3 pages.  She journals her findings and usually wants to keep going when her time is up!

 Dad rescued this old toy from the attic amid dirt and squirrel poo.  It still works and Z scored 100% on the countries of Europe.  Old toys like this keep kids from accidently clicking on crap when using computers, provides 3D learning--a nice change from pen and paper, and contains buttons--what kid hates buttons?  So thankful.

Z is for Zoo

 Tommy, "z is for zoo.." I wrote on the chalkboard.  "Zebra also starts with Z."  And why read about the zoo when you can GO????
"Let's go to the zoo, kids!"  The weary bunch jumped to action finding shoes, bookbags, and hats, relieved.  Up late the night before, none desired to sit at their desks behind their books.  We piled into the van in a happy rush, too fast to remember the stroller for Z or my...purse.
"No problem," I said to myself when I discovered the loss, there should be lots of free parking at Lincoln Park Zoo.  Its Wednesday morning for goodness sake."  Ha That's where I went wrong.
Trucks lined up bumper to bumper in the free parking and white tents covered the park lawn.
"What the heck?  Auww... its the Farmer's Market."  After several passes down the free parking, one phone call to Chad to check on the used-to-be-free Trolley, I took a vote.
"Kids!  Do we book it home or take another pass?"  Smart as they are, they voted for the safe route--drive home and come back.
Surprisingly as I headed for Lake Shore Drive I spotted a road w/o traffic...
"Could it be???..."  Sure enough, across Fullerton in front of the Nature Museum was our salvation.
We parked and walked to the North Entrance joyfully.

Bethan silenced the nagging voice of doubt regarding this spontaneous trip when she yelled, "Hey mom, there it is!"
"What?"
"The light! The dots of light!"  Remembering our Renoir picture study of his work, "The Swing".
"Yesssss!!!"  She saw it really, she did....the warm noon light dappled through the branches of the trees waving in the breeze and spotted the sidewalk just like the painting.

The day continued to confirm my doubts about spontaneous school as Aziza saw for the first time a lion, cheetah, and tiger.  And our long excursion in the Birdhouse was so much better than reading "Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day." (Apologia) Not that its a bad book, or reading should always be rejected for experiencing, but their reading set them up to enjoy the birds and now their experience of them will reinforce their reading.  Abi, not one for spontaneous displays of gratitude, said "Thank, Mom" as she reflected on her day on the drive home.  So satisfying to me.

Joey, our Safe Family baby, is no longer with us. Gratefully, his collaborative painting still hangs on our wall.

This was the collaborative work that Chad and the kids did. The upper right hand corner is Joey's face... Joey and Tom are painting the left hand corner and the girls worked on the bottom.... It was by Joey and of Joey.

Homeschool rooms

Felt sick today...managed to peruse these beautiful homeschool rooms. Trying to "stay in my atmosphere" and not lose my breath. Who am I? What can I give in this way and what do I need to let go of?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/contentedsparrow/5006953132/

https://wildflowersandmarbles.com/category/home-education/learning-spaces/

this is ann, she's amazing - http://www.aholyexperience.com/2010/08/best-ways-to-create-homeschool.html

homeschool room makeover - http://www.tphblog.com/the-study-a-before-after/

Hanging picture study art prints/homeschool room design 

Homeschool room design 

 

Purpose of Art? Pondering for the Primary grades...

So I've been deep in homeschool land...prepping Abi's first grade curriculum. The purpose of Art is sehr controversial, so I thought you may be interested on my take...I don't feel satisfied with my Biblical support of my ideas...I think there are better Scriptures. What do you think? 

Biblical Purpose of Art 1. Our artistry glorifies God . As his creation, he made us capable of great creativity and self government. When we excel in art, it makes Him look good. 

2. Art encourages us. We can see and feel God’s love for us when we observe, reflect and represent his handiwork in art. Ps 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.” Eccl. “He made everything beautiful in its time.” Phil 4:8 “whatsoever things are lovely..think on these things.” Prov. 23:7 “For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” 

3. Art teaches us about God. When we observe and copy his art, we understand his love, omnipotence, orderliness and precision in every detail.