Knowing that Raphael was born April 6, 1483 we included him in our homeschool’s Middle Ages/Renaissance unit study this week.  (I like it when historic days can be fit in to our learning.)  (My kids like it when Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles can be fit in to our learning.)  So this art study was a win/win situation.

Garden of Praise has a short but good biography of him as well as quiz, word puzzles, coloring page, and more printables.  Here’s there link to Raphael’s page, but spend some time here browsing around.  They offer a wonderful selection of resources.  http://gardenofpraise.com/art33.htm

Inspired by Raphael’s work on the wall of the Sistine Chapel, we’ve been drawing angels.

Z7 and J9 linked here for their art practice  http://artforkidshub.com/how-to-draw-an-angel/

B15 and E17 gave this lesson a try  http://www.dragoart.com/tuts/15007/1/1/how-to-draw-a-guardian-angel,-angel-statue.htm

For those of you who might be wondering how our angels turned out.  Well, there’s a good reason why I’m not sharing photos of them.  We were a bit disappointed in our work.  Wings are tough to draw.  The lesson learned falls more into the category of Art Appreciation this time instead of Art Application.  And I even have a link for this

You might be an artist if …

–The only piece of new furniture you have in your home is a $2000 easel.
–You’ve ever cleaned your fingernails with a palette knife.
–You butter your toast with your fingers, just to feel its texture.
–You’ve ever considered framing your palette instead of the painting.
–You notice the burnt umber in the background of the Playboy centrefold.
–Your children are forced to share a room so you can have an art studio.
–You routinely drink the rinse water instead of the coffee.
–The suggestion that you should “teach” or “open a flower shop” or “go to law school” makes you want to scream and throw things.
–You know the difference between beige, ecru, cream, off-white, and eggshell.
–Your favorite fragrance is eau d’ linseed oil.
–You do judge a book by its cover.

from http://www.top10-best.com/a/top_10_best_art_jokes.html

Leonardo da Vinci has a birthday coming up April 15.  We will be learning about him that week.  And blog posting about him, too.

I’m regretting not having the time to make Raphael a birthday cake.  Maybe, I’ll buy him one.  Eating birthday cake while practicing drawing those angel wings sounds like a plan to me.

For another post about our Renaissance artists studies click here  https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/03/07/art-day-sistine-chapel-style/

betty jo