6 sessions; 40 minutes per session

1. SWBAT create complex compositions that feature the characteristics common in historical illuminated manuscripts
2. SWBAT design their own Celtic knots
3. SWBAT demonstrate a sophisticated use of colored pencils as an artistic medium

1. Pencils
2. Erasers
3. Fine Point Sharpies
4. Prismacolor Scholar Class Pack
5. Prismalcolor Metallic Gold
6. Prismacolor Colorless Blender
7. White drawing paper cut into square of the desired size (6x6" or 8x8" for example)
8. Black construction paper for mounting

Need these materials? Visit Blick!

1. Show examples of historical illuminated texts from Medieval Europe and explain the purposes of these artworks at the time they were created (I use a Keynote and require students to take notes)
2. Go over the criteria for the assignment
3. Teach students how to create Celtic Knots (There are a multitude of resources for this - I taught myself how to freehand construct these designs and then adapted what I'd learned to a level that my students could process)
4. Students are to generate a minimum of 3 well thought out thumbnail sketches that meet established criteria before they may begin work on the final draft of the artwork
5. My students already learned proper use of colored pencils on the Color Theory Snowflakes project by this point in the curriculum - they were shown individually how Prismacolor pencils behave differently than Crayola or Dick Blick brand colored pencils
6. Students will work for a number of class periods on their designs and then prepare their artworks for display upon completion

I have a common rubric/reflection template that can be found on my art room blog or attached to one of my other resources

Medieval Art, Western Art

Line, Rhythm/Pattern, Shape, Unity/Harmony

Colored Pencil, Drawing

English/Language Arts, History/Social Studies

Illuminated Letter Lesson.docx
Illuminated Presentation.ppt