Sacred Art Camp

In August, the big girls attended a super neat sacred art camp at the Holy Spirit Center.  During the class, they explored sacred art with a professional art restorer.  She introduced them to all sorts of great techniques and styles of sacred art.  This fit in perfectly with our Middle Ages studies this year and introduced them to art forms that we will never have a chance to try at home.

During the week, they started with a study of Byzantine style icons.  Using the traditional forms of large eyes and precious metals of gold and silver, the children drew their icons free hand using a patron saint, Jesus or Mary as their subject.

Rose's "Blessed Kateri", age 10

Daisy's "GESU", age 8

The next form they explored was stained glass.  They started by tracing a line drawing onto a piece of glass and then used glass paint to color in the glass areas.  The pieces were then framed.

Daisy's "Lamb of God", age 8

Rose's "Blessed Mother", age 10

The last form they tried was fresco tondo.  The students traced their drawings onto a round wooden tablet coated with wet plaster.  They traced it using a wooden stick then painted over the traced lines with green paint.  Once that was complete they finished the painting with the colors of their choice.

Rose's "Madonna and Child", age 10

Daisy's "Beautiful Mother", age 8

At the end of the class, the students and their families were invited to an art show displaying all of the sacred works.  All of their works were beautiful and inspiring, especially considering they were created by children between the ages of 6 and 13.  Well done!

After watching this beautiful process this week, I may be inspired to just try some of these techniques at home.  I think they did a beautiful job.  How about you?