The Ridge Light Ranch Blog
Here you’ll find Free art project ideas, helpful resources, and encouragement to help you teach art to your students. The “Anyone Can Teach Art Podcast” is on hiatus, but the old episodes are still available for you to listen to and are linked here in the blog.
- Common Objections to AI
This has almost no connection to art, so I’ve been holding off, thinking I didn’t need to address these concerns. However, since I’ve become a bit of an advocate for using AI, people have started asking me some form of… - How to Use AI in the Art Classroom: 18 Practical Ideas
This is part of a series of blog posts about art and AI. Here are the first two, which you might also want to read: Those first two were more philosophical in nature and this one will be far more… - Personal Guardrails for AI Use— Freedom and Responsibility
In my last post, “AI, Art, and the Human Soul,” I ended with the idea that we should use artificial intelligence (AI), but do so responsibly. What does that look like and what kinds of personal guardrails can we implement… - AI, Art, and the Human Soul
Artificial intelligence (AI) is all over the news and it’s impacting every area of life. There are many objections to AI (some valid and some not) but AI is clearly a massively disruptive technology. The world of art is an… - Artist Spotlight: Winslow Homer: American Realism Explained
Many art experts consider Winslow Homer to be one of the most important painters in American art. Working during the late nineteenth century, he helped establish American Realism, a movement that focused on truthful scenes from everyday life rather than idealized… - Artist Spotlight: Thomas Cole- The Hudson River School Explained
If you’re teaching American art history, you can’t skip Thomas Cole. The Hudson River School is my favorite American art movement — and Cole is the reason it exists. He didn’t just paint beautiful landscapes; he helped define what American… - Artist Spotlight: Charles Wilson Peale – American Portraiture Explained
Charles Willson Peale was an Enlightenment-era American artist who used portraiture, scientific study, and museum-making to shape a new nation’s identity by teaching people to observe, classify, and understand the world through reason, order, and careful seeing. Introduction Charles Willson… - Artist Spotlight: Johannes Vermeer— Northern Baroque Explained
Summary: Johannes Vermeer was a Dutch Baroque painter who masterfully used light, composition and color to create calm, quiet domestic scenes, like The Milkmaid, that revealed the sacred dignity of ordinary life, showing that faithful everyday work can be an… - Supplies for Drawing
There’s something beautifully simple about drawing. All you need is paper and pencil. However, some of us (is this all artists?) really love art supplies and find new supplies to just be so much fun! So, if you or someone… - Artist Spotlight: Leonardo da Vinci — The Genius of the Renaissance Explained
Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most celebrated figures of the Italian High Renaissance, remembered not only for his art but also for his insatiable curiosity and scientific explorations. His portrait of the Mona Lisa is considered the most famous portrait… - Artist Spotlight: Jan van Eyck— Northern Renaissance Explained
Summary: Jan van Eyck, a key Northern Renaissance painter, advanced oil painting techniques and emphasized precise detail, naturalism, and symbolism, reflecting the region’s focus on everyday life and texture, as seen in works like the Arnolfini Portrait and Ghent Altarpiece. Classical Conversations Challenge… - Artist Spotlight: Berlinghiero Berlinghieri — Medieval Icons Explained
When you start researching Berlinghiero Berlinghieri, you might notice something surprising—there isn’t a lot of information out there. Most art history websites only mention him briefly, even though he was one of the few Medieval artists we know anything about. So,… - Supplies: All About Watercolor Brushes
Let’s dig deeper into brushes! What are they made from? What’s the difference in the materials, shapes, and brands? Do you really need expensive brushes? How many and which brushes make a good starter set? Like a lot of art,… - Supplies: All About Watercolor Paint
So, you’re ready to dive deeper into watercolor paint and gain a better understanding of what’s going on inside that pan or tube? Yay! This is really fun stuff and very applicable. Watercolor painting is often seen as a spontaneous,… - El Greco’s Mystical Vision: Quotes and Questions to Deepen Your Study
Picture an artist who dared to tell people that Michelangelo couldn’t paint well, who claimed that daylight bothered him because it interfered with his “inner light,” and who created some of the most distinctive paintings of the Renaissance. That artist… - Michelangelo’s Artistic Passion: Quotes and Questions to Deepen Your Study
Let’s talk about an artist who was THE moody, obsessive genius of the Renaissance. Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) wasn’t just another painter or sculptor – he was a creative force that completely changed how we think about art. Imagine being so… - Durer, the Famous Printmaker: Quotes and Questions to Deepen Your Study
Albrecht Dürer was a visionary artist, mathematician, and thinker who helped shape the Northern Renaissance. His engravings, woodcuts, and paintings showcase his mastery of detail and his fascination with geometry and nature. In this post, we’ll explore his most thought-provoking… - Watercolor Supplies for Beginners
Updated May 2025 So you’re ready to get started with watercolor! Yay! What supplies do you NEED and what supplies are nice to have? Excellent question! Let’s dig in! I try to use affiliate links whenever possible. So, if you… - Fra Angelico’s Spiritual Vision: Quotes and Questions to Deepen Your Study
Fra Angelico’s art beautifully blends the Gothic style with early Renaissance techniques, reflecting his deep spiritual devotion and sensitivity to the natural world. In this blog post, we explore his unique approach to painting. Through a series of thought-provoking quotes… - Unlocking Ghiberti’s Gates: Quotes and Questions to Deepen Your Study
Let’s explore the artistry of Lorenzo Ghiberti, the master behind Florence’s iconic bronze doors. His innovative blend of realism, detail, and classical influence helped shape the course of Renaissance art. Our Other Resources about Ghiberti Don’t forget that we have… - Giotto’s Revolution in Art: Quotes and Questions to Deepen Your Study
Let’s dive deeper into our study of Giotto di Bondone! We covered some of the basics in our “Why Study Giotto” blog post/ podcast, so let’s dive deeper into what others said about him and how he influenced art and… - How to Make a Decorative Arrow
When my son crossed over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts we participated in the traditional CrossOver ceremony, like most Scout families. We also were excited to give our Scout an arrow with some representation of all the work he… - BSA’s Sculpture Merit Badge
Boy Scouts of America (aka BSA or Scouting) has a sculpture merit badge! I love teaching art, but I know not everyone has access to a local teacher for a merit badge counselor. I also know that professional sculptures might… - BSA’s Art Merit Badge
Boy Scouts of America (aka BSA or Scouting) has an art merit badge! I love teaching art, but I know not everyone has access to a local teacher for a merit badge counselor. I also know that professional artists might… - What’s the Purpose of Education?
This is the first chapter of my book, Anyone Can Teach Art (Published in 2020). You can also download a prettier version of this first chapter here. This foundational question of “What’s the purpose of education” is becoming more and… - BSA’s Pottery Merit Badge
Boy Scouts of America (aka BSA or Scouting) has a pottery merit badge! I love teaching art, but I know not everyone has access to a local teacher for a merit badge counselor. I also know that professional potters might… - Introduction to Nature Journaling
Have you heard of “Nature Journaling?” I’m guessing you have, but have you actually tried it? Most of us have a vague idea of what’s involved, but when we set out to give it a shot, we’re not totally sure… - Summer Art Fun!
The end of the school year is drawing near! What plans do you have? It seems like most people like to relax, travel, and have fun! However, most of us ALSO want to do something school-ish to keep our kids’… - A Review of CC’s Copper Lodge Library Books
Overall, I really like the footnotes in the classics and think it’s worth it to purchase them if you can. I’m not impressed with the original works. - How to Keep a Timeline Journal (Book of Centuries)
I didn’t learn a lot of history in my years in public school. Don’t get me wrong, I went to class and even earned A’s! However, I had no real interest or passion for history, so I didn’t really learn… - How to Schedule a Year of Cartography
So you’ve decided to learn geography with cartography! Congratulations! This is really exciting! You’ll be having fun and using different parts of the brain as you draw all these unique shapes while you grow familiar with the world we live… - Does Coloring Count as Art Time?
Short Answer: Yes! There are numerous benefits to coloring- both art benefits and non-art benefits and I want to tell you about some of the most important ones. Some of these benefits are similar to the benefits of tracing, but… - 5 Practical Tools for Drawing Maps
In my previous blog post, I told you about the 5 main issues that seem to cause anguish for students entering Challenge A and trying to wrap their brains around drawing maps for the cartography strand. Now, I want to… - Drawing in Challenge: How to Avoid Tears and Enjoy Learning
Our family has been using the Classical Conversations curriculum since 2012, but this fall (2020) will be our first year in the Challenge level! As my oldest moves into 7th grade, I find myself having to re-work the way I… - Audio Sample of the ACTA Book
We’re working on an audio copy of my book, Anyone Can Teach Art. My first try at recording the first few chapters is now available here for you! OR, Listen on: iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Help! I’m not sure how to listen to a podcast!… - Now We’re Homeschooling?
(I originally posted this on Facebook. It resonated with so many people that I decided to make it available here, even though it’s not really art-related. If I can answer any homeschooling related questions for you, please contact me!) If… - Art Resources
I love the spirit of generosity I’m seeing among so many online businesses right now. Knowing that there are a bunch of people stuck at home, feeling a little confused on how to act, and maybe a little anxious, many… - All About Art Events- Podcast #66
OR, Listen on: iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Help! I’m not sure how to listen to a podcast! ‘Art Events’ is the umbrella term I’ve given to in-person events where we create art. This includes painting parties, art camps, and art classes. We’ve talked about art… - Special Christmas Episode: the Incarnation of Christ- Podcast #65
The birth and incarnation of Christ are often featured in great works of art- but what is the significance of the incarnation for Christians? This week Julie and Deanna are wrapping up Season 3 of Anyone Can Teach Art with… - How to Pick out Art Supplies- Podcast #64
Whether you’re buying yourself art supplies, picking out supplies for your classroom, or purchasing a gift for a fellow artist, here are some tips on how to pick which art supplies to purchase. Here are some of our favorite art… - Art Projects for Making Gifts- Podcast #63
We’re talking about fun art projects you can create as gifts for others. Tile Coasters Tile Trivets This works just like a coaster, but you use a larger tile! Wood Art Wood slice ornaments- You can also draw on… - Drawing a Pet? Start with a Great Photo!
A drawing of your pet makes a wonderful keepsake! Whether you’re drawing it yourself or commissioning someone else to draw it for you, it’ll be a lot easier if you start with a great photo. Since I started drawing pet… - Why Study Vincent Van Gogh? Podcast #62
Vincent van Gogh is one of the best-known artists of all time. He’s known for his unique style and strangely beautiful works and art, but also for his short, tragic life. Today we’re talking about van Gogh and what we… - Why Study Berthe Morisot? Podcast #61
Today we’re talking about one of the most famous female Impressionists: Berthe Morisot. Initially, she gave up on getting married and having kids so she could pursue her career as an artist. However, she later met a fellow artist who… - Why Study Claude Monet? Podcast #60
Monet is probably the most famous Impressionist and he’s known for his beautiful depictions nature, particularly waterlilies. Join us as we chat about his life and his works of art. What Can We Learn from Monet? Practice, practice, practice! Monet… - Why Study Degas? – Podcast #59
This unusual Impressionist didn’t enjoy plein-air painting (painting outside) or the airy natural light. Instead, he sketched and then returned to his studio to paint. He’s most famous for his paintings of ballet dancers, but he also painted everyday people… - Why Study Gainsborough? Podcast #58
Thomas Gainsborough ( 1727-1788) was a life-long painter who loved creating magnificent landscapes but found they didn’t sell well. Instead, he paid the bills with portraits until he started combining the two into unique portraits with idealistic landscapes in the… - Why Study Rembrandt?- Podcast #57
Rembrandt (1606-1669) was a famous Baroque artist from the Dutch Golden Age. He is most famous for painting portraits in the 1600s, but of course, his story goes much deeper than that! Early in life he hit it big and… - The Personal Renaissance Mindset- Part 2- Podcast #56
We’re back for part 2 of The Personal Renaissance Mindset. This is where we talk about how to cultivate a family culture that encourages lifelong learning and creating! You can find the Personal Renaissance Mindset part 1 episode here! The… - The Personal Renaissance Mindset- Part 1- Podcast #55
We love telling all about our own personal renaissance activities each episode (the things we’re learning and creating)- But how can we foster this mindset of a lifelong love of learning in ourselves and in our children? We’ve thought up… - Drawing Texture and Tree Bark- Podcast #54
Texture is one of the 7 Elements of Art and learning how to create it can really increase the sophistication level of your artwork! Join us as we discuss how to create texture and how this integrates with the science… - Aerial Perspective and The Science of Light- Podcast #53
Learn about how the science of light creates aerial perspective (aka atmospheric perspective), one of the Methods of Perspective Things We Mention Why is the sky blue? Because the short blue wavelengths of light get bounced around in the atmosphere… - Fibonacci and Abstract Art- Podcast #52
This week, Deanna and Julie are talking about the Fibonacci number sequence and how it’s used in art! Around 1170, Leonardo Bonacci (now called Fibonacci) was born to a businessman in Pisa, Italy. Traveling with his father around the Mediterranean,… - Audubon and The Birds of America- Podcast #51
John James Audubon had a passion for birds and he loved exploring America and discovering the many unique species of the land. This podcast correlates to one of our lesson plans: Audubon’s Scientific Illustrations with Upside-Down Drawing- Lesson Plan. It’s… - Balance, Symmetry, and Leaves- Podcast #50
This week I’m talking about balance, symmetry and how they’re related to leaves! Deanna’s unavailable, so it’s a solo episode this week! What is Balance? What is Symmetry? Balance is one of the Principles of Design Principles of Design: How… - The Basic Shapes of Trees- Podcast #49
Basic drawing meets basic tree identification and makes for an awesome science and art integration! - How to Host Painting Parties with Emily Magone- Podcast #48
Why not earn some extra money hosting painting parties this summer? As homeschoolers, our summers are usually a little bit more relaxed than the school year. That makes summer the perfect time to start a little business on the side!… - Tips for a Successful Museum Visit- Podcast #47
As summer is approaching and you’re planning your vacations, we hope you’ll include a visit to a few art museums! Join us today as we discuss the benefits of visiting museums with your kids and how to prepare for a… - 3 Simple Principles for Art Classroom Management- Podcast #46
Welcome to Season 3 of the Anyone Can Teach Art podcast!! This week we’re talking about classroom management. We’re focusing on the art classroom but, of course, most of this applies to any classroom with children or even adults. Classroom… - Best of Renaissance Artists- Podcast #45
It’s time for a celebration of the Renaissance period! Are you ready for a quick overview of Renaissance artists? This ‘best-of’ episode is a sample of about 10 minutes of each of our six episodes about Renaissance Artists (#36-41). This… - Best of the Ancient Art Episodes- Podcast #44
Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Celts, and more! Are you ready for a quick sampler of six kinds of ancient art? This ‘best-of’ episode is a sample of about 10 minutes of each of our six episodes about ancient art (#28-33). This… - Best Of: Using the Classical Model to Teach Art- Podcast #43
Episodes #23-27 were about how to use the Classical Model to teach art. We’re summarizing them for you in this ‘best-of’ episode as a great refresher if you listened to those episodes last summer. Or, if you didn’t get to listen… - Drawing Drills- Podcast #42
If we’re always determined to create a masterpiece with every sketch, we miss out on some of the best ways to improve our drawing skills. The best way to get better at anything is through deliberate, regular practice of a… - Why Study El Greco?- Podcast #41
His real name was a 10 syllable doozie: Do-men-i-kos The-o-to-kop-ou-los. No wonder they just called him El Greco (The Greek). He was born in Crete (part of Greece at the time), studied in Venice and Rome, and then settled in Spain…. - Why Study Michelangelo- Podcast #40
Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) was an amazingly talented painter, architect, and poet, but his favorite art form was sculpting. He was probably the most talented sculptor who ever lived, perhaps even the most talented artist who ever lived. His art was dramatic,… - Cornstarch Clay
I’ve been so impressed with how naturally most kids take to clay. It’s a medium without mistakes- Just keep playing with it until you like what you see! I laid out all the basics of working with clay here. Air-dry… - Why Study Albrecht Durer- Podcast #39
Albrecht Durer was known as the “Leonardo da Vinci of Germany,” but he was a Renaissance trendsetter in the whole European art world. His impact reached far beyond Germany, partially because he traveled to other countries, but more because his Woodblock cuts… - Intro to Clay
Looking for a fun art project? How about clay!? We’ve been experimenting with clay as I create a few art lesson plans that use clay: Creating Relief Sculptures with Ghiberti Sculpting like Michelangelo We’ve tried several different varieties of clay… - Why Study Fra Angelico- Podcast #38
Fra Angelico is another great Renaissance artist. We can see the Gothic-to-Renaissance progression over the years in his works of art and have rich conversations about the underlying philosophies and worldviews that influenced art at this time. Fra Angelico’s artwork also… - Why Study Ghiberti- Podcast #37
Lorenzo Ghiberti was a famous early Renaissance artist, best known for his three dimensional bronzed reliefs on the doors of the Florentine Baptistry. By learning about his work, we get to learn about relief art and its somewhat three-dimensional nature…. - How to Make a Custom Coaster in 30 Minutes
This project makes a great gift and it’s fun to do with the kids! It’s pretty fast- most people can do it in under 30 minutes. Although it will vary based on how much time you spend sketching. To purchase… - Artsy Gift Ideas
Christmas is coming! What sort of art-related gifts do we suggest? Deanna and I mentioned a few of our favorite gift ideas in the Podcast episode #36, but here we’ve compiled a list of all our favorite artsy things and… - Why Study Giotto- Podcast #36
Studying Giotto is a great way to usher in your study of the Renaissance period because he’s the Father of the Renaissance in Florentine art. We chat about Giotto’s life, the hallmarks of Renaissance art and some art project ideas for your study of Giotto. In our Personal Renaissance section, we offer some great suggestions for Artsy Gift Ideas. - 5 Quick, Easy Ways to Incorporate Famous Art into Your School Day
We all would love our students to be familiar with a collection of important works of art (and we kinda would like to improve our own familiarity with famous works of art too!) Familiarity with famous art is part of… - 4 More Secrets to Adding Depth to Your Art (Perspective)- Podcast #35
In this 2nd half of our discussion on the 7 Methods of Perspective, we’re talking about: Shadows, Angle of Lines, Degree of Detail, and Color! These skills are a little less intuitive so they’re especially fun to learn and then see in everyday life!… - 3 Easy Ways to Add Depth to Drawings (Perspective)- Podcast #34
This is the first half of our discussion of the 7 Methods of Perspective. In these two episodes, we chat about all the ways to add depth to your two-dimensional artwork. In this episode, we discuss: Overlap, Horizontal Placement, and… - Illuminated Manuscripts- Podcast #33
(Updated 2024) We’re going back to the Book of Kells (an example of Celtic art), and other illuminated manuscripts (as promised in episode 31 about Ancient Celtic Abstract Art)! In this episode (recorded in 2018), we answer the following questions:… - Teaching Perspective with Greek and Roman Architecture- Podcast #32
(Updated June 2024) It’s time for our conversation (recorded in 2018) about Greek and Roman architecture! Sometimes we forget what an art form architecture is, so it’s good to focus on it at times. Join us as we answer the… - Abstract Celtic Art, Patterns and Puzzles (Podcast #31)
(Updated June 2024) Celtic Art has such a unique look to it that most people can easily identify at Celtic, whether it’s from the earlier pre-Christian eras or the later Celtic-Christian times. In this style we see a lot of… - Archaic Greek Art, Linking Ancient to Modern Art (Podcast #30)
(Updated June 2024) Let’s look at Greek art, but specifically art from the Archaic period (about 800-500 BC). It’s an interesting period that led to the Golden Age of Greece and the Roman Empire. The Archaic period forms a link… - Egyptian Art, Variety and Consistency- Podcast #29
(Updated May 2024) What makes Egyptian art so instantly recognizable? Why did the Egyptians draw and paint in this way? What kind and contributions did the Egyptian culture make to architecture? Today (recorded in 2018) we chat about all these… - Exploring Prehistoric Art- Podcast #28
(Updated May 2024) Prehistoric art, like Cave paintings, rock art, and petroglyphs, are windows into cultures before written history. In addition to the obvious historical integrations, there are so many great prehistoric art / science integrations like the study of… - How to Teach Art in the Dialectic and Rhetoric Stages- Podcast #27
Today we’re completing our series on the Classical Model of Education and how to use it to teach art with a special double episode about art in both the Dialectic and Rhetoric stages of learning. Listen on iTunes | Listen… - What are the Remaining Components of Art Grammar? (Part 3 of 3) – Podcast #26
Today we’re talking about the other five components of the grammar (basics) of art: Techniques / Media, Skills, Purposes of Art, Art History, and Art Appreciation. Listen on iTunes | Listen on Google Play | Listen on Stitcher Art and the Classical Model Here’s… - What are the Principles of Design? (Art Grammar, Part 2 of 3) – Podcast #25
We’re discussing the Principles of Design (one of the components of the grammar, or basics, of art) as we continue our series on How to Teach Art using the Classical Model of Education. The Principles of Design are the way the… - What are the 7 Elements of Art? (Art Grammar, Part 1 of 3) – Podcast #24
As part of our series on How to Teach Art using the Classical Model of Education, we’re diving into the grammar of art! Today, Deanna and Julie discuss the 7 Elements of Art and how to use them in your… - How to Teach Art Using the Classical Model of Education- Podcast #23
What is the Classical Model of Education and how does it apply to art? What’s a model of education to begin with? In this podcast episode, Deanna and Julie discuss three hallmarks of a Classical education: Valuing methods over content,… - Why Include Art in Education? Podcast #22
There are so many reasons why visual art should be part of education: the effect it can have on other school subjects and its inherent value in fostering creativity, visual learning, attention to detail, motor skills, confidence, comfort with ambiguity, learning from mistakes, perseverance, and communication with others. - Need Reference Photos?
Drawing from a reference photo is sooo much easier than drawing from life, but sometimes you and your students don’t have a photo of your own that’s quite what you’re looking for. Using someone else’s photo without permission is copyright… - Podcast #21: Making Time for Art
One of the most common struggles we all seem to have in teaching art, is making time for art. Join Deanna and Julie and they discuss HOW to make time for both Art Appreciation AND Art Creation for both your… - Podcast #20: Why Study Jim Davis
Deanna & Julie discuss Jim Davis, the creator of Garfield. Who is he? What is his art like? Why should we study him? Join us as we chat about the genre of comics, cartoons, and graphic novels and discover some great… - Podcast #19: Why Study Roy Lichtenstein?
Deanna & Julie discuss Roy Lichtenstein. Who was he? What were his paintings like? Why should we study him? Join us as we chat about Lichtenstein’s Pop Art and the fine line between a copycat and a unique original piece of… - Podcast 18: Why Study Andrew Wyeth?
Deanna & Julie discuss Andrew Wyeth: Who was he? What were his paintings like? Why should we study him? Join us as we chat about Wyeth’s subdued pallet and discover what it means to train your eyes to see color…. - Podcast #17: Why Study Georgia O’Keeffe
Deanna & Julie discuss Georgia O’Keeffe: Who was she? What were her paintings like? Why should we study her? Join us as we chat about the life and works of the Mother of American Modernism and grow to truly appreciate… - Podcast #16: Why Study Norman Rockwell
The 2nd artist we’ll study in our spring semester is Norman Rockwell. Who was he? What was his art like and why should we study him? Listen on iTunes | Listen on Google Play | Listen on Stitcher Here’s the… - Podcast #15: Why Study Grandma Moses
Deanna & Julie discuss Grandma Moses: Who was Grandma Moses? What were her paintings like? Why should we study her? Join us as we chat about the life and works of this American icon and grow to truly appreciate her… - Podcast #14: Why and How to Study Art History
Deanna and Julie have a fun discussion about art history. We chat about why studying art history is so important, why starting with a big picture framework is best, and how my Art History Overview chart is arranged to be… - Podcast #13: Art History- How to Go from Confused to Confident
I’m getting excited thinking about our upcoming unit on American Artists! Every January and February we do six art projects, each focused on one artist per project. Studying these historical artists is such a fun way to incorporate a little… - Podcast #12: D&J Discuss Tracing’s Usefulness
In this podcast episode, Deanna and Julie discuss tracing! Listen on iTunes | Listen on Google Play | Listen on Stitcher Here’s the Highlights: I’m a big advocate for tracing. I hope to make sure the whole world knows that… - Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving! My sons and I will be coloring our own version of The First Thanksgiving and we wanted to share it with you. I hope you’ll get to sit down and enjoy some art time while contemplating what you’re thankful for.