Why Teach Art?

The first question that should be asked of any subject is: is the teaching of this subject necessary to equip the child for his calling in the Kingdom of God? If it is necessary, we must then ask: how can I teach this class in a way that best gives glory to God and equips the student to serve God?
I have always believed that art was important, but I have never before stopped to consider what God has to say about art. I will endeavor to do so now.
"Honor and majesty are before him: Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary." Psalm 96:6
Beauty dwells with God. He determines what is beautiful. And he loves beauty, so we should love beauty. He is called beautiful:
"And Jehovah their God will save them in that day as the flock of his people; for [they shall be as] the stones of a crown, lifted on high over his land. For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty!" Zechariah 9:16 - 17
We also know that God loves beauty, just by looking at the world He has created; even in its fallen state there is still much beauty in it. As men made in the image of God, we have the ability to create (although not ex nihlo like God). Our creations can be used to glorify God or to rebel against him.
Art, one of our many ways of creating, can be used to communicate truth, to encourage us to think about something "pure", "excellent", or "praise-worthy" (Phil. 4:8). Traditionally, Christian art was used to tell the story of the gospel to those who couldn't read. Art, because it contains images, which are often less precise than words, may not always be as effective in communicating truth as literature, but it can still be used to speak to others on a level closer to the heart than to the head. And of course, there are times when a picture truly is worth a thousand words. So, art can be a good use of one's time, if done with the intent to communicate truth (even such simple truth as, look at this beautiful flower that God created) for the glory of God.
Art can be good and useful, but I don't think it is essential for all students to know how to paint or sculpt really well. Thus, a highschool student should be given the freedom to drop art class if he is not interested in it, or needs to concentrate on other things. Art should be required of younger students, however, since they must be given a chance to learn and explore a wide variety of subjects. Younger students need this diversity of learning in order to discover where their aptitudes and intrests lie. This knowledge will help them identify their calling in this world.
Art class for the elementary school student will include drawing, painting and sculpting, but drawing will take precedent. Even for the non-artist, being able to draw well is an invaluable tool. Simple, clear drawings help us draw maps, jot down ideas for a decorating, sewing or carpentry project, take notes in a laboratory, and do many other things. I plan on using I Can Do All Things by Barry Stebbing to teach elementary drawing and painting. It builds skills slowly, with a wide variety of different lessons. It also includes a little art history. Best of all, it is saturated with the Christian faith of the author.
For preschoolers, Baby Lamb's Book of Art, is also great.
When the writer of Hebrews wanted to tell his readers what it is to have faith and how to live the Christian life, he described the lives of many faithful men of the past. In other parts of Scripture, we are enjoined to follow the example, or avoid the example, of those that preceded us. I believe that this method of learning the Christian life can be applied to learning other things, such as art. Thus a useful method of teaching art is to have the student copy masterpieces, provided I am careful to choose masterpieces that glorify God, and avoid those anti-Christian works that the world calls masterpieces. Looking at and learning about masterpieces that we don't copy and the artists that made them can also be useful. I plan on using God and the History of Art, by Barry Stebbing to help with this. Now, I need to decide which artists and pieces are worthy of study and imitation. Any suggestions?