Henna Hands Project...

 the Elements of Art: Line

India Traditional Bridal Henna 

While body adornment dates back over 5,000 years, it's generally used today to express luck and happiness, and is often featured at ceremonial events like weddings and births. If you attend a traditional Indian wedding, henna will almost always be a part of the celebrations. Henna paste is made from a powder derived from the henna plant. It has been used for centuries as a natural dye for hair and nails as well. The temporary dye is now most  used as part of the Indian marriage celebration.

 

Photo Credit: Amit Dave/Reuters

 

To purchase these designs go to the ETSY shop of Eltendedero Crafts. 

She has some amazing things!

Click HERE 

Lesson 4. Design Hands

Step 1. Using a pencil, trace around your hand and part of your wrist and arm.

 

Step 2.  Turn our paper once to a different side. Using a pencil, trace around your hand and

part of your wrist and arm again. This hand will over-lap the first hand.

 

Step 3. Turn our paper once to a different side.Using a pencil, trace around your hand and part of your wrist and arm again. 

This hand will overlap the first two hands.

 

 

Step 4. Outline all your hands with a sharpie or black marker or pen. This may get confusing with all the overlapping 

hands so go slow and take your time.

.

 

Step 5. Using a sharpie create the henna designs inside your hands. Remember that

when ever you come to a line you need to change your design.

 

Step 5. You will be using markers for this project. Pick out several markers for your color pallet. Your pallet can be either cool or....warm.

or warm...

 

Step 6. Pick your first color and make sever dots on the page.

 

 

Step 7. Now pick your next colors and continue circling the dot until all of the negative space is full. The negative space is anywhere the hands are not. 

Remember the hands will stay black and white, only the background has color.

 

Creating a Costa Rica Boruca Mask....

Boruca Masks of Costa Rica Art Project

Mask Background Information

"When the Spaniards arrived with advanced weapons, the Borucans only had animal spirits, such as the jaguar, to guide them. In homage to the spirits that aided them, today's intricate masks are carved and painted to represent these spirits, fierce animals, devils, and also images of the local flora and fauna of their country. The Borucans have become over the years very detailed relief carvers. Relief carvings have a flat back and the image carved in three dimension, obtaining unbelievable depths, all from one piece of wood. There are three distinct styles and each tells a specific story about Borucan culture. The first is the 'diablito' or 'devil' mask, the most traditional. The second is the 'ecologica', featuring animals and plants of the rainforest. These were originated by a new generation of artists concerned about the imminent threat of their culture due to the destruction of their environment. The third, 'combinados', are the metamorphosis of both the 'diablitos' and the 'ecologica', as they represent the blending of the traditional and contemporary styles".

*Information obtained from the Boruca Website

Cultural Appreciation vs. Appropriation 

Materials Needed

Cardboard box cut into 12x12 inch sheets

Toilet Paper Roll (after the quarantine I know y'all have TP rolls)

Masking tape

Scissors

Drawing paper and marker

Non-hardening modeling clay

Click HERE to order modeling clay from Amazon

Tempera or Acrylic Paint

Gesso or white tempera 

To hang you mask you may tape or hot glue a paper clip on the back of the cardboard

Steps in Mask Making

1. Ask students to select the type of mask they would like to create the Diablo, the Ecological or they may choose to create a mask that represents themselves. After the mask is drawn students will color their drawing with markers. 

I use Crayola washable markers for this project. I like them because they blend together really well.

You can order an individual size HERE from Amazon.

You can order a class pack HERE from Amazon.

2. This is part of my school's recycle art lesson series. We use cardboard boxes from around the school to create our Boruca masks. You will need to cut your boxes in to 12x12 inch sheets or as big as you are able to cut your boxes.

Draw out the shape you would like your mask to be.

Then cut out the mask.

3. Next we will start adding the eyes using a toilet paper tube.

Flatten the tube and cut across at an angle.

Then cut straight across the TP tube, which will create another angle.

Do that 2 more time so you have upper eye lids and lower eye lids.

I like to make the lower eye lids smaller than the top. 

Using masking tape you will attach the TP tube cut outs to your mask.

There is a flat side and a pointed side to the eye lid, make

sure the pointed side goes down towards the cardboard.

Attach the eye lids securely with the masking tape and then

rub the tape until it is flat against the cardboard. 

4. I have my students cut out all their parts at one time and then put them in a bag. I put masking tape on the bag with their name on it, I am able to reuse the bags this way. 

Once all the parts are cut out then you can start gluing them in place.

Make sure your name is on the back with a Sharpie and then set it aside and let it dry until next class.

5. When the glue is dry poke holes in the areas you would like to later add yarn, string or raffia. Then paint the entire mask with Gesso or white tempera.

Set this aside and allow the white to dry.

6. Now the exciting part....add some color. 

I use tempera paint at my elementary school for clean up and economical reasons but the mask in this example is in acrylic. I would use acrylic if I could because I like the look. 

After the paint dries add some yarn, string or raffia. 

I found a feather and I added it in too.

7. Add the eyes

Make sure you put a drop of glue between the clay and the cardboard so the eyes will stick in place.

I use Craftsmart non-hardening modeling clay. 

The package in the photo will create all 5th grade Boruca masks, a 4th grade project and a 3rd grade project. I do order extra white clay for the eyes. You can have the kids use other colors than white for the eye background. 

Click HERE to order modeling clay from Amazon

 I have a class set of stands, which are just cut 2x4 boards and dowels.

I use masking tape to the tape the masks to the stand and that way I can reuse the stands.  

This image is from the Boruca website. 

You can find more information about the Boruca culture, weaving, natural dyes and how to buy your own make HERE

If you have any questions or need help with this project please email me at

artroomblog@yahoo.com

Math and Art Reflective of Islamic Art Tiles...

You will need a pencil, a ruler and a 12 x12 inch sheet of 90# white paper.

You will also need watercolor paints when you are finished designing the tile.

Draw a line using a ruler from corner to corner.

Both horizontal and vertical 

You will need a 4 inch box. Start by placing the 2 inch mark on the ruler where the horizontal and vertical lines meet at the center of the paper.

Make a mark on the first line at 0 and 4 inches.

Now turn the rules to the other line and do the same thing.
You have created 4 marks on the lines...

Use the ruler to connect the 4 dots to create your 4 inch box.

 

Now you need an 8 inch box. Start by placing the 4 inch mark on the ruler at the center of your paper where the horizontal and vertical lines meet. 

Now place a mark on the line at the 0 and 8 inch measurements. 

Now turn the paper and do the same thing on the other line. 

Place your ruler at the 4 inch mark at the center of the paper and make a mark on the line

at the 0 and 8 inch measurements.

Now connect the 4 dots to create your 8 inch box.

Now put a line through the center of the 8 inch box.

And do the same thing on the other side.

After this step I tell the kids they are free to design at will. 

I do a demo but let them know that after this point their work does not have to look like mine. 

So I demo how to slowly connect the points and use the ruler to draw the lines. I remind them this is not a race and the ruler must meet at and intersection point, either one that is already there or one they can measure out on their own. Make sure you are focusing on where your ruler is lining up.

Continue the demo...remember that what you draw on one side you have to do on the other so that your tile is symmetrical. 

Finish demo...now it's your turn to add lines to your tile.

Create your own tile. Add as many lines as you like.

The last step is to use water color paint to symmetrically paint the tile.

Here is a great link to the Met Museum's Islamic patterned tiles information. 

My philosophy on teaching cultural/historical art lessons: 

Appreciation vs. Appropriation  

I think that we need to teach an appreciation of cultural art with the understanding that it is not ours to take. I think if we have kids look at the art “then make it their own” it is watering the art down and allowing it to move into popular culture. I think cultural/ historical should be studied as it is with an accompanying history listen and with the expressed understanding that it is not ours to take... only to look, study and appreciate.