Best Art Appreciation Homeschool Curriculum for High School

Please note: this article includes our recommendations for homeschool high school art appreciation programs, which include fine art instruction. If you are looking for homeschool art history curriculums for high schoolers, click here to see our article on that topic. To learn more about the differences between art appreciation and art history, and to read more about our two favorite art appreciation programs, read below.

This post contains affiliate links and we may earn a commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Our picks for the best art appreciation homeschool curriculum for high school:

Art appreciation was once a popular course in high schools. Because of decreased public funding for the arts and a growing focus on STEM fields, however, many high schools no longer offer this subject. Fortunately, homeschooling provides parents with the opportunity to include art appreciation in their children’s educational experience. 

Many people confuse art appreciation with art history. Though the two subjects overlap in many ways, there are important differences. Art history considers the role art has historically played in social and cultural movements through time. It focuses on the ways artists and their creations have influenced and challenged the political, social, religious, and cultural developments of different periods. The visual and stylistic developments of art are an important consideration in art history mainly for what they reveal about the motivations of the artist and larger cultural forces of the time. 

Art appreciation, on the other hand, emphasizes developing a taste for good art and understanding the artistic techniques that define the world’s great art. A basic knowledge of art movements throughout history is important for art appreciation, but the cultural and social context of art is not treated in as much critical depth as it is in art history. In the homeschool context, art appreciation is often taught alongside or within a broader program on fine arts that includes technical instruction and practice in creating art. 

This article includes our recommendations for the best high school art appreciation programs for homeschoolers. These programs include fine art instruction as well as some basic history of artists and art movements. If you are looking for homeschool curriculums that focus on art history rather than art appreciation, see our separate article, Best Homeschool High School Art History Curriculum.

Best All-Around Program

Artistic Pursuits High School Program

Artistic Pursuits offers fantastic comprehensive art programs for children of all ages, and its high school program is a wonderful option for homeschoolers looking for a rich art appreciation curriculum. The program emphasizes four main elements of art study: the elements of art (the basic lines, color, shapes you see), artistic composition (how these elements are arranged on a surface or in three-dimensional space), media (what types of materials are used), and art history (introducing important artists, periods, and styles).

We love that this is an independent program with no parental involvement necessary. With High School Book One: The Elements of Composition, students learn basic visual vocabulary and try out different artistic techniques through a guided, step-by-step process. The book is extremely approachable and easy for the student to use on his or her own. There are 16 units covering topics such as line, shape, balance, rhythm, and proportion. The works of important artists from different periods are highlighted as examples in the lessons.

Each unit in High School Book One includes four lessons, each of which takes an hour or more to complete. Two lessons a week are recommended if your student wishes to finish the course in one year. The course qualifies for one studio art credit when all 68 lessons (and corresponding works of art) are completed.

Students who complete the first book may go on to High School Book Two. Students may also want to consider the sculpture series, which consists of two courses – Sculpture Technique: Construct and Sculpture Technique: Model. The supplies for all courses will need to be purchased separately.

Best Christian Program

God & the History of Art, Berry Stebbing

If you are looking to give your high school student a homeschool art appreciation program that is firmly Christ-centered, look no far than Berry Stebbing’s God & the History of Art. Because this impressive course contains over 250 lessons, your student can use it for up to five years of art study. 

The program wonderfully combines hands-on instruction in drawing and painting with a history of how Christian artists throughout time have glorified God through their art works. The Early Christian, Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic, and Early Renaissance periods are covered. The program can be done by children as young as 10, so this is also a great curriculum option if you have multiple students 10 and above who want to learn together. 

The complete program consists of two course books, 35 paint cards, and a set of master postcards. Students will also need the following supplies: 

  • a set of 12-24 colored pencils
  • an acrylic paint set that includes red, blue, yellow, and white 
  • a set of 3-4 brushes (#1, #3, #5, #7, or #9)
  • a set of drawing pencils and a kneaded eraser
  • an extra-fine tip black marker pen
  • a set of washable markers

If you have multiple children doing this program together, you will want to purchase an additional set of the consumable paint cards for each child. Additionally, a fantastic supplement to this program is the God & the History of Art DVDs, which cover major artists and movements in art history from a Biblical perspective.

Conclusion

Artistic Pursuits and God & the History of Art are both excellent programs that will give your homeschool student a solid and inspiring introduction to art appreciation. If you are looking for a homeschool high school curriculum that focuses more on art history, see our recommendations here. If you have any questions or would like more information on this topic, please email us!