Episodes #23-27 were about how to use the Classical Model to teach art. We're summarizing them for you in this 'best-of' episode as a great refresher or an excellent introduction to the Classical Model of Education and how to use it to teach art.

If we're always determined to create a masterpiece with every sketch, we miss out on some of the best ways to improve our drawing skills. The best way to get better at anything to though deliberate, regular practice of smaller skill set. In art, we use drawing drills to improve our skills. Show Notes: https://ridgelightranch.com/drawing-drills-podcast-42/ 

It's time for the El Greco episode. Just like how Giotto came before the Renaissance and helped to get it started, El Greco came at the end of the Renaissance and shows us the transition away from the Renaissance style of art to Mannerism, which led to Baroque art. Show notes and pictures: https://ridgelightranch.com/why-study-el-greco-podcast-41/ It's the last of our 6-part series on Artists of the Renaissance. Show notes: 

He was an extremely talented and dramatic Renaissance painter, architect, poet, and (his favorite) sculptor. Join us as we chat about his personality, his life, his art, and how to handle the nudes in his art when you're teaching children! Show Notes: https://ridgelightranch.com/michelangelo-podcast-40/

Who Was this Confident German Artist? Show notes:  https://ridgelightranch.com/albrecht-durer-podcast-39/  Albrecht Durer was known as the “Leonardo da Vinci of Germany,” but he was a Renaissance trendsetter in the whole European art world. Durer wasn't just an artist, he was also interested in theology, science, proportions, math, geometry, and epistemology (the study of the foundation of knowledge).

We can see the Gothic-to-Renaissance progression over the years in Fra Angelico's works of art and have rich conversations about the underlying philosophies and worldviews that influenced art at this time. Fra Angelico's artwork also shows some examples of foreshortening, a key drawing skill! I hope your homeschool will join us. Click through to the show notes for all the links and a place to comment!  https://ridgelightranch.com/why-study-fra-angelico-podcast-38/

Learning About Relief Art and Renaissance Culture See our full show notes here:  https://ridgelightranch.com/ghiberti-podcast-37/ 

Usher in your study of Renaissance artists with Giotto Studying Giotto is a great way to usher in your study of the Renaissance period because he's the Father of the Renaissance in Florentine art. Show Notes: https://ridgelightranch.com/giotto-podcast-36/  Artsy Gift Ideas:  https://ridgelightranch.com/artsy-gift-ideas/

In this 2nd half of our discussion on the 7 Methods of Perspective, we're talking about: Shadows, Angle of Lines, Degree of Detail, and Color! These skills are a little less intuitive so they're especially fun to learn and then see in everyday life! Show notes are at: https://ridgelightranch.com/drawing-depth-more-podcast-35/ 

How to use the Methods of Perspective This is the first half of our discussion of the 7 Methods of Perspective. In these two episodes, we chat about all the ways to add depth to your drawings. In this episode we discuss: Overlap, Size, and Horizontal Placement. In episode 35 we'll cover the other 4 Methods of Perspective. Show Notes:  https://ridgelightranch.com/drawing-depth-podcast-34/  

We're looking at illuminated manuscripts today and discussing: -When and where were Illuminated manuscripts created? -What were they? -What can we learn from looking at several examples of Illuminated manuscripts? -How do illustrations stack up against other fine art? -What subject integration opportunities fall along side Medieval illuminated manuscripts? Full Show Notes here: https://ridgelightranch.com/illuminated-manuscripts-podcast-33/

Its time for our conversation about Greek and Roman architecture! Join us as we answer the questions: -What other cultures influenced Greek and Roman architecture? -How has Greek and Roman architecture influenced present day architecture? -What is perspective and how do I teach it? -Is Architecture really art? -What other professions / industries include art? Check out the show notes here: https://ridgelightranch.com/ancient-architecture-podcast-32/

Celtic Art has such a unique look to it that most people can easily identify at Celtic, whether it's from the earlier pre-Christian eras or the later Celtic-Christian times. In this style we see a lot of patterns and drawings that look like knots and ropes. As far as abstract art goes, it's a very meticulous, mathematical style- very different than some other types of abstract art. Show Notes:  https://ridgelightranch.com/abstract-celtic-art-podcast-31/

Show Notes: https://ridgelightranch.com/greek-art-podcast-30 In this episode we're chatting about Greek art, but specifically art from the Archaic period. It's an interesting period that forms a link between Ancient Egyptian art and Classical Roman art. We chat about this connection when it comes to Greek sculptures and pottery, but we leave a discussion of architecture for episode #32. We also chat about nudity in art and how to handle it in class and at home.

What makes Egyptian art so instantly recognizable? Why did the Egyptians draw and paint in this way? What kind and contributions did the Egyptian culture make to architecture? Today we chat about all these topics as we prepare for a fun art project: Drawing King Tut's Mask Using Symmetry.

Prehistoric art, like Cave paintings and rock art, are windows into cultures before written history. In addition to the obvious historical integrations, there are so many great Prehistoric Art science integrations like the study of caves, geology, and paint materials. Join us today as we explore Prehistoric art and the many different ways to teach about it. Here's the Show Notes: https://ridgelightranch.com/prehistoric-art-podcast-28/

Today we’re completing our 5-part series on the Classical Model of Education and how to use it to teach art with a special double episode about art in both the Dialectic and Rhetoric stages of learning. Show Notes:  http://ridgelightranch.com/podcast-27-dialectic-rhetoric-art/

Today we're talking about the other five components of the grammar (basics) of art: Techniques / Media, Skills, Purposes of Art, Art History, and Art Appreciation. You can Find the Show Notes here: http://ridgelightranch.com/podcast-26-art-grammar/

The Grammar of Art, Part 2: The Principles of Design We're continuing our series on how to teach art using the Classical Model of Education. This is part 2 of 3 about the grammar of art, and we're discussing the Principles of Design (the way the Elements of Art are used in a work of art). Here's the full show notes:  http://ridgelightranch.com/podcast-25-principles-of-design/ Questions? Comments? Comment on the Blog or join the group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AnyoneCanTeachArt/

We're continuing our series on the Classical Model of Education and how to use it to teach art. This is our first episode on the Grammar of art, where we're discussing the 7 Elements of Art. Here's the Full Highlights/Outline:  http://ridgelightranch.com/podcast-24-the-7-elements-art/

What is the Classical Model of Education and how does it apply to art? What's a model of education to begin with? In this podcast episode, Deanna and Julie discuss three hallmarks of a Classical education: Valuing methods over content, the Trivium, and Subject Integration.

There are so many reasons why art is part of education. Deanna and Julie chat about its effect on other school subjects and its inherent value in fostering creativity, visual learning, noticing details, motor skills, confidence, comfort with ambiguity, learning from mistakes, perseverance, and communication with others.

One of the most common struggles we all seem to have in teaching art, is making time for art. Join Deanna and Julie and they discuss HOW to make time for both Art Appreciation AND Art Creation for both your children and yourself!  Here's the full Highlights: http://ridgelightranch.com/podcast-21-making-time-for-art/ 

Why study the art of Garfield and the genre of Comics? Deanna & Julie discuss Jim Davis, the creator of Garfield. Who is he? What is his art like? Why should we study him? Join us as we chat about the genre of comics, cartoons, and graphic novels and discover some great reasons to study Jim Davis and his memorable cat.  Here's the Highlights: http://ridgelightranch.com/podcast-20-jim-davis/ ‎

Get the Full Highlights Here:  http://ridgelightranch.com/podcast-19-roy-lichtenstein/ Lichtenstein’s Paintings we discuss: -Series of brushstroke paintings and sculptures -Girl with Tear I -Haystack series (similar to Monet's haystacks) -Water Lilies (similar to Monet's Water Lilies) -Bedroom at Arles (similar to Van Gogh's Bedroom at Arles) -Whamm! -Ridge Light Ranch line drawing of Whamm! -Oooh... Alright...