A Full-Credit High School Art Appreciation Course That Teaches Students How to Evaluate Art Through Scripture

Portraits of the Masters is a year-long art appreciation elective for grades 9–12 that equips students to understand, analyze, and evaluate great works of art through a biblical worldview.

This course teaches students how art communicates ideas, reflects belief systems, shapes culture, and how to evaluate those messages in light of God’s Word.

Designed for independent learning, Portraits of the Masters provides a complete, academically credible fine arts credit with minimal parent involvement and no artistic skill required.

• 36-week course 
• Full high school credit 
• Open-and-go, independent format 

How the Course Works

Each week, students complete three guided lessons that include:

• Reading about artists, movements, and historical context
• Studying specific works of art in detail
• Learning how to analyze art using the seven elements of art
• Responding to written reflection and evaluation questions
• Comparing artistic ideas with Scripture
• Rating and discussing works based on biblical standards of truth and beauty

Throughout the year, students also complete:

• Midterm assessment
• Final assessment
• A final project that allows them to demonstrate understanding in a way that fits their strengths

Students read. Students think. Students evaluate. Parents review and record credit.

• Counts as a full high school fine arts credit 
• Works as a standalone elective 
• Complements history, literature, and worldview studies 

What’s Included

• 109 open-and-go lessons organized across a 36-week year
• Study of 21 master artists
• Artwork for student review
• Coverage of eight major Western art movements, including:
  • Renaissance
  • Baroque
  • Neoclassicism
  • Romanticism
  • Realism
  • Impressionism
  • Post-Impressionism
  • Fauvism
• Art analysis, written reflections, and evaluation activities
• Hands-on, creative prompts (no experience required)
• Biblical worldview integration throughout every unit
• Midterm and final assessments
• Technical vocabulary and glossary
• Museum locations for featured works
• Printed answer key for parent support 

Why Portraits of the Masters

Many homeschool art appreciation programs emphasize short lessons, creative projects, or casual exposure to famous artists. While those can be enjoyable, they often fall short of providing the depth, structure, and worldview training needed for high school credit.

Portraits of the Masters was created to go further, providing a chronological, structured study of Western art history combined with guided analysis, written evaluations, and biblical discernment.

Students don’t just learn what art looks like—they learn what it communicates and why it matters.

Designed for Independent Study

Portraits of the Masters is written directly to the student and designed to be completed independently.

• Clear instructions
• Built-in pacing
• Answer key included

Parents are not required to teach, lecture, or prepare lessons. Oversight is simple, and grading is straightforward.

This course is a great fit for:

• High school students who need a fine arts credit
• Families seeking biblically grounded electives
• Teens who enjoy discussion, history, and critical thinking
• Students who are not interested in studio art or performance-based courses

📄 Click here to view a sample.

FAQ

What are the credentials of the Not Consumed Team? God has blessed the Not Consumed team with a great deal of education (including a variety of degrees) and decades of combined homeschool experience. Several team members have subject-specific degrees or master's degrees in education, specifically curriculum design.

What do you believe? I believe that the Bible is the absolute authority in matters of faith and practice. It's 100% true, with no exceptions or figurative sections. I believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of Scripture; in one God eternally existing in three Persons; in the creation of all things, including man, as the direct act of God; in eternally secure salvation by grace through faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ; in the incarnation and virgin birth of Christ, and in His bodily resurrection; in the personal, bodily, premillennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ and His millennial reign on earth.

Is the curriculum accredited? Though schools can be accredited, there is not an accreditation program for curriculum.

Are there prerequisites? There are no prerequisites for this course. 

Does Portraits of the Masters have a teacher's manual?  Portraits of the Masters is an independent learning-based course and does not require a teacher’s manual. A printed answer key is in the back of the book. 

Are there tests or quizzes in Portraits of the Masters?  There is a midterm and a final in the course. The midterm is divided into 5 lessons. The final is divided into 2 lessons and 1 project. A printed answer key is provided in the book. 

How many pages does Portraits of the Masters have?  Portraits of the Masters has 246 pages and covers 10 different artistic periods in history. 

How many weeks and/or lessons does  Portraits of the Masters have?  Portraits of the Masters includes 104 lessons that cover 21 artists. 

Will Portraits of the Masters work as a study for students in other countries, or is it USA-based?  Portraits of the Masters can be used in any country.