Learn More – The Religion in Life Curriculum

Art Education Through Religion

Discover the components of a uniquely Catholic Art Curriculum

Student Booklets

There are eight student books, each loosely corresponding to a grade level. Each relies on visuals and diagrams accompanied by a brief reading to instruct the student.

Teacher Manual

The teacher's manual provides the content of each lesson, including art objectives, character objectives, and spiritual objectives. Valuable practical advice is found throughout.

art appreciation

Picture study is a crucial means of training the eye. The Great Pictures and Their Stories readers explore at an appropriate age level the same images suggested within the teacher's manual.

Discover the Student Booklets

The Art Education Through Religion series forms students to appreciate and mirror the beauty of God’s Creation. With its ground-up approach, this series presents topics according to the developmental level of the child, guiding their natural intuition to an understanding of why something is beautiful, and how to create something beautiful of their own…all within the context of the Catholic faith and virtuous living.

Book One

Book One establishes basic foundational skills for viewing and creating art, using themes such as the beauty of God’s creation, Bible stories, the Life of Our Lord, and religious symbolism. These serve as a backdrop for discussion of color, shapes, familiar objects, and virtues such as gratitude, reverence, love of parents, and gift giving.

The main objective in this book is to encourage the child to develop basic motor skills and a sense of orderliness in art class by introducing paper cutting, drawing, and clay molding. This level uses simple language and themes to make the building blocks of artistic techniques and principles accessible and attractive to young children.

Book Two

Book Two builds on the foundation laid by Book One, presenting simple techniques and principles to guide students to a higher level of skill in paper cutting, drawing, and clay modeling. Graphic design, composition, and page arrangement are introduced, along with the building blocks of color theory: primary versus binary colors, and tints.

Religious and virtue-building themes from the first book are maintained, but augmented with nuances which the child can begin to appreciate as he or she attains a higher developmental level. Virtues such as generosity, honesty, and faith are introduced, and activities focus on verbal and visual storytelling to develop devotion to Our Lord and Our Lady, as well as concepts of penance, reverence, and components of the Mass to prepare the student for their First Holy Communion.

Book Three

Book Three introduces techniques in composition through basic concepts such as establishing a point of interest and guiding the eye of the viewer. Emphasis is placed on the discernment of pleasing proportion and color use, through activities that explore measurement for the sake of accuracy in design and further color theory.

Purity and beauty of color and design is related to purity and beauty of the soul as the student explores topics of conscience and the sacraments. While templates depicting stories of saints and heroes of our Faith are provided in these lessons, the student is encouraged to bring individuality to each piece, learning to channel his or her creativity while imitating exemplary work.

Book Four

Book Four presents techniques in watercolor as a new addition to the student’s skill set in drawing, paper cutting, and clay molding. As the lessons impart the intentional use of color, rhythm, contrast, shapes, and forms to guide the eye in establishing a center of interest within compositions, the student's interest is held and maintained through paper crafts set to themes of courage, missionary work, charity, purity, Easter and the Resurrection.

Nature studies encourage students to explore sources of design and symbolism within the Church and the art of Ancient Egypt.

Book Five

Book Five places a strong emphasis on increasing technical skill in art appreciation, graphic design, color theory, composition, lettering, and drawing. New principles and techniques guide the student in creating original art that explores themes of the Immaculate Conception, the Passion of Our Lord, sacrifice, and martyrdom.

Ancient Greek architecture is introduced through discussion and clay modeling from photos. Intuition for the proper proportions of the human form is instilled through frequent practice of figure drawing and action studies, and lettering techniques learned in earlier lessons through paper cutting now transition to hand lettering skills.

Please Note: for older students who are just beginning this curriculum, we strongly recommend that they start at a level no higher than this book, as the foundations laid here are necessary for successful completion of projects at the upper levels.

Book Six

Book Six delves into conventionalization—the adaptation of objects into geometric design and pattern arrangements. Objects used to practice this skill include flowers and fruits, as well as religious elements and symbols. Emphasis is placed on originality, craftsmanship, and ingenuity in design patterns, props, costumes, etc.

Lettering and poster design techniques now introduce the creation and use of lowercase letters, and drawing abilities are augmented with instruction in mechanical drawing and further practice in sketching from sight. Art appreciation moves from Greek to Roman art and architecture, and students learn about sacramentals, vestments for higher orders of the Church, natural symbols of virtues, and patriotic stories through their art exercises.

Book Seven

Book Seven makes a return to color theory, covering analogous and monochromatic harmonies, and guides students to a strong intuition for pleasing color choice. Compositional principles such as balance, number, accent, and intensity are taught in conjunction with many character-related analogies along the way.

Clay modeling skills are challenged through study of Gothic architecture and stained glass artistry, and students continue to learn the subtle arts of spatial arrangement and design. Stencil use and spattering projects are interspersed among the exercises in banner design, proportional figure drawing, and an introduction to perspective.

Book Eight

Book Eight provides abundant opportunities to practice the analysis of picture interpretation through line, color theory, and a new concept—texture.

Symbolism and motive in creating designs is further explored and analyzed as the student learns to delve deeper into the underlying messages and meanings of art.

Techniques and principles of perspective receive special attention, as well as the importance of proportion and balance in figure sketching. This is achieved in conjunction with the study of Renaissance art and architecture, as well as the liturgical year.

Art Appreciation Readers

Children love looking at pictures, but guidance is needed in training the eye toward a full appreciation of what fine art has to offer. These readers make this task both easy and pleasant, with age-appropriate text that leads the child in observing what is important and why.