MATERIALS & METHODS - A Perspective on Art Education - Activities for Children - Themes & Topics
Drawing & Painting -- Modeling & Sculpting
Fingerpainting -- Mural Making -- Paper-Mâché -- Puppets -- Mask-Making -- Crayon Encaustics -- Crayon Resist Drawing -- Crayon Sgraffito -- Collage -- Mobiles -- Watercolor -- Common Earth Clay -- Salt Ceramic [recipe] -- Clay / plasticene Non-hardening -- Carving in the Round -- Newspaper Modeling -- Paraffin or Wax Sculpture -- Plaster Plaques or Reliefs -- Relief in Plaster -- Relief in Soft Wood -- Repoussé -- Sandcasting -- Working With the Coping Saw or Jigsaw -- Straw/Toothpick Sculpting -- Painting on Window Glass -- Diorama -- Peep Shows -- Whittling -- Wire Sculpture
[From: [Meaning in Crafts. Mattil,, Edward L. Chairman, Dept. of Art, North Texas State University. Third Edition, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1971.]
The teacher may wish to have the children work out their ideas first on paper with chalks or crayons. The teacher can explain the steps that follow more easily to children if he has prepared a sample for illustrative purposes and perhaps has a finished plaque from another class or even one that he has made himself.
The children begin by digging directly into the plasticene, using tools fashioned from tongue depressors split lengthwise. Into the plasticene they carve, deep in some spots, shallow in others, until they have expressed their ideas as fully and originally as possible in this material. The plasticene can then be given a very thin coat of petroleum jelly; however, this is not absolutely necessary, as there is already oil in the plasticene mixture. It does, however, prevent bits of plaster from adhereing to the plasticene.
The next step involves the mixing of plaster of paris in a container, such as a plastic washbasin or mixing bowl, or a #10 tin can. The plaster is poured onto the plasticene carving to a thickness of 1/2" to 3/4" . While the plaster is still wet, the child can insert a loop of soft wire near the top of the back in order to hang the plaque. If the teacher encourages the chldren to jostel the boxes slightly without lifting them from the table while the plaster is still liquid, any air bubbles that might have been trapped in the plaster will rise, insuring a more uniform quality.
After the plaques have dried overnight, the boxes can be torn away and the plaques lifted away from the plasticene molds. Slight imperfections can be carefully carved away with an ordinary paring knife or smoothed with a small bit of sandpaper. After the plaques have dried for several days, they can be given a very light sanding to remove all traces of the petroleum jelly, which might offer some resistance on future painting operations. Now the plaques are ready for painting. Ordinary water paints, tempera paints, enamels, or oil-based paints are satisfactory for finishing this project.
If ordinary earth clay is readily available, it can be used just as effectively as plasticene. Unlike plasticene, which can be used over several work sessions, the earth clay should be carved and the plaster poured while it is still malleable. When the plaster has hardened sufficiently to pull it free from the clay, it may be necessary to take a moistened brush to wash away clay particles that still adhere to the plaster.
The teacher will find the children very excited about this project and wanting to do it another time.
[Meaning in Crafts. Mattil,, Edward L. Chairman, Dept. of Art, North Texas State University. Third Edition, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1971.]
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