We are past the Dark Ages and heading into the Medieval Times in our homeschool. To continue our study of Art in the medieval times with the help of Artistic Pursuits, we studied Illumination. So we are in the 13th Century on the timeline, come join us for a little peek into illuminated manuscripts.
What is illumination?
Illumination in the most narrow definition is a manuscript adorned or embellished with gold and silver paints or decorations. Often this art form gave a heavenly glow to figures represented in the manuscripts However, today any decorated manuscript is referred to illumination.
While illumination is not confined to the 13th century, most surviving art and manuscripts from the middle ages are examples of illumination.
You may have seen examples, in your own bible, when the first letter of the beginning word of a chapter is written in calligraphy and ornate designs. That will give you an idea but it is not a true picture.
Our assignment:
Lesson 31, of Artistic Pursuits, explores illumination in their K-3 book. This was a wonderful way to connect my four year old with the lesson my older kids were learning. In fact, this book is wonderful for all kids if you tweak the assignments a bit to make them more challenging for older children. So, my four year old was assigned to use watercolor pencils to draw her own Illuminated letter. My two older kids loved the idea of using watercolor pencils so they tried to do the same.
Now it’s time to make your own Illuminated letters. It’s very easy and fun to do.
What you need:
Paper
Pencils
Colored Pencils, Watercolor Pencils, or Markers
Gold and/or Silver Paint or Markers
Pick a letter you want to embellish such as the first letter or your name or simply go through the alphabet. Then draw the letter clearly and large on a piece of paper. Leave space for embellishing your letter. You can pick a theme to guide you in your embellishments such as vine theme, garden, animals, or items that begin with the letter you chose. Draw the pictures around and on the letter in a manner you like and highlight in gold or silver.
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