Illuminated Initial

Minnesota 9-12 Visual Art Standards
Used in this Lesson

  • 1. Demonstrate knowledge of the foundations of the arts area.
  • 1A. Analyze how the elements of visual art including color, line, shape, value, form, texture and space; and principles such as repetition, pattern, emphasis, contrast and balance are combined to communicate meaning in the creation of, presentation of, or response to visual artworks.

  • 1b. Evaluate how the principles of visual art such as repetition, pattern, emphasis, contrast and balance are used in the creation of, presentation of, or response to visual artworks.

  • 2. Demonstrate knowledge and use of the technical skills of the art form, integrating technology when applicable.
  • 2a. Integrate the characteristics of the tools, materials and techniques of a selected media in original artworks to support artistic purposes.

  • 3. Demonstrate understanding of the personal, social, cultural and historical contexts that influence the arts areas.
  • 3a. Analyze how visual artworks influence and are influenced by personal, social, cultural or historical contexts, including the contributions of Minnesota American Indian tribes and communities.

  • 3b. Synthesize and express an individual view of the meaning and functions of visual art.
  • 4. Create or make in a variety of contexts in the arts area using the artistic foundations.
  • 4a. Create a single, complex artwork or multiple artworks to express ideas.

  • 4b. Revise artworks based on artistic intent and using multiple sources of critique and feedback.

  • 6. Respond to or critique a variety of creations or performances using the artistic foundations.
  • 6a. Analyze, interpret and evaluate works of visual art by applying self-selected criteria within the traditions of the art form.

  • 6b. Justify choices of self-selected criteria based on knowledge of how criteria affects criticism.

    • Additional Tie-ins

  • Bible History
  • Gothic Architecture
  • Gothic painting style
    • Students are introduced to Illuminated Manuscripts through a brief history of Gothic art and architecture. Images are shown and discussed relating to how the church was the center of European life and how the Middle Ages (which also brings to mind King Aurthur, knights, dragons, and quite possibly, the search for the Holy Grail) spawned a surge in Catholic doctrine throughout Britain and nearby European countries.

    Students are then shown how to use paint to color a lightly sketched Illuminated letter. Blending to form some sense of three-dimensionality is stressed as well as detail and brush/paint control. A handout of sample letters is given to students as inspiration for their letters.



    Evaluation:
    4 points -- Amount and richness of detail included with the letter
    3 points -- Blending of paint to form three-dimensionality
    3 points -- Inked nicely and neatness of the finished project

    10 points total.