An Artful Journey

Artist Focus: May 26, 2010

John Singleton Copley
Born Boston, Massachusetts, July 3, 1738. Died London, England, September 9, 1815.

The art of John Singleton Copley will be An Educational Journey’s first artist focus. He was selected primarily because his work correlates with our early American history studies. I believe incorporating the study of art with other subjects makes it more meaningful.

In our home we don’t follow the true Charlotte Mason picture study concept as we go at a much faster pace than suggested.

John, a self-taught artist, was the most well-known artist during the American colonial period. He was particularly known for his historical pieces and for the portraits of the residents of New England.

Additional Resources: Read the rest of this entry »

Educator Charlotte Mason

This blog is designed to be a resource for studying the works of artists.  It is created for students to study art primarily the Charlotte Mason method. Charlotte Mason was an educator in England in the 1800′s. Charlotte helped her students develop a love for art using what she termed “picture study.” Here’s how it works:

• Select an artist to study for some time. Charlotte’s students studied the same artist for a month at a time. We will pretty much follow the same schedule.
• Display the picture and mention the name of the artist who created it. We will be displaying the images we study right here on this website. The kids will also create their own art appreciation notebook.
• Have the students study the picture until they feel they can clearly see it with their mind’s eye.
• Turn the image over and have the children narrate, or describe, the work of art. Ask them to go into great detail. This is called narration.
• When all the students are finished go ahead and display the image. Notice the things that were missed, but be sure to allow the children to develop their own opinions. The goal is not to teach art criticism, but an appreciation of art.
• Now display the picture in a prominent location in your home. Place is somewhere where they children can easily study it throughout the week. Traditionally Charlotte Mason displayed one piece of art a week. We tend to go with two a week.
• You want to continue to study the same artist’s works for several weeks so the students become familiar with the artists style and mediums.
• Supplement the study by reading a biography of the artist and add the artist to a time-line.