How to make an Amate Paper Cutout

This project is based on the Amate (bark paper) cutouts of the Otomi people of East Central Mexico.  It is one of the projects I did in Fernie.  It is also a great project to discuss the principle of symmetry with students.  In Fernie we discussed some of the stone sculpture by the Aztecs and how it was symmetrical.  It also teaches kids how to use the center fold when designing symmetrical projects.  Something I use constantly when making patterns and templates.

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- resource/reference material, see here

- brown kraft paper or paper bags

- wax paper

- oil pastels or crayon

- scissors

- pencil

- tempera paint

- paper for mounting

- glue

- an iron

PROCEDURE:

Take a piece of brown kraft paper or part of a paper bag.  Cut to size.

Now scrunch up with your hands, try not to tear it.  Unfold and scrunch it again and again.

Flatten out on your workspace and smooth it out a bit.

Using oil pastels or crayon rub a little color onto the paper.  It works best if you take the wrapper off and then use the side.

Fold the paper in half with the color to the inside.

Take a pencil, here I'm using a sharpie so you can see, and draw out one half of your design using the fold line as the middle.

Cut out your design.  Use your other hand to keep the paper together so it doesn't shift as you are cutting.

You can cut out inside parts as well.

Open up your design.

Add tempera paint for a bit more color if you want.  Lots of ancient sculpture was painted, sometimes with very strong color, but it has weathered away with time.  Even ancient Greek sculpture, which we base classical forms on was brightly painted, not that clean look that we see now.

Sandwich your cutting between 2 pieces of wax paper.

Place your "sandwich" on top of some newspaper and use an iron to press and melt some of the wax onto your cutting.  I have a special iron that I use only for crafts.  If you are using your clothes iron make sure to put some newspaper on top as well so you don't get wax on that next shirt you iron!  The wax paper adds some weight to your cutting and it melts a bit of that pastel and crayon giving your cutting a weathered look.

Peel back the wax paper to release your cutting.

Find a nice piece of paper to mount your cutting on.  Glue into place.  Lay down that wax paper on top again and then add a few heavy books and let your cutting set for a while.

Here are some more examples.  This is always a successful project and they look terrific on the bulletin board.

 

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for "Daring Adventures in Paint" by Mati Rose McDonough.  I will be making the draw this Friday. See my last post for all the details on how to enter. 

 

How to do a Rooster Wycinanki and Variations

So I've been trying to design a Rooster project.

Last year I gave you a brief introduction to Wycinanki or Polish paper friezes.  The rooster is a very traditional design.

In this post I'll give you directions and the templates for this design(probably Grade 4 and up). If you are teaching younger grades keep reading as I have some easy variations for you to try.

Now with wycinanki it is usually cut out of 1 piece of paper and all connected.  I cheat, cutting in sections, and then pasting together.  It's just easier for the kids this way, no need for Xacto blades.




MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- black paper
- colored paper or tissue
- white paper for mounting
- template #1
- template #2
- white pencil crayon
- scissors
- tacky glue

PROCEDURE:

Fold your black paper in half and trace out the rooster design.  You can make up your own or follow the template. (template #1)  Make sure to place it on the fold.

A white pencil crayon works well.

Cut out 3 designs.  The main rooster, a top design , and something for the bottom.

Unfold and then glue your pieces onto a piece of white paper.  Now designs are usually circular so you could mount on a white circle and even add a black circular border.

Build up your design with bits of colored paper.  I included some of these shapes on template #2.  You can use tissue paper if you want.


Glue into place with tacky glue.  You can put a piece of wax paper on top and then place a heavy book on top of that to get it to dry really flat if you wish.




VARIATIONS:

Now for younger kids you might want to do just a basic rooster.

I have the templates for this guy here;

 template #3, template #4, and template #5.

You can cut the main shape out of black paper and add the colored shapes just like the previous project.

Or you might want to try something like this.























MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- brown kraft paper or paper bags
- template #3
- oil pastels and colored pencils
- book pages, newspaper, maps, etc.
- paint
- glue
- scissors
- plastic wrap

PROCEDURE:

For this rooster I wanted some interesting papers to create with so you start off by painting your book pages or newspaper, or map paper.

I also like to add another layer of interest so after the first coat of paint is dry I add another color (usually in the same family or an analogous color).  Use different objects to make a repeating print, splatter, sponge, dry brush, paint stripes, whatever catches your eye.

While your patterned papers are drying paint a background for your rooster. 

While the paint was still wet I smooshed in a piece of plastic wrap and left it to dry.  (don't remove that plastic wrap until it is dry)

Using the basic shape (template #3) trace it onto brown kraft paper or a piece of paper bag.

Using pastels add some color and outline your features with colored pencil.

Cut out your rooster.

Glue the rooster to your background when dry.

Using your patterned papers that you made cut out an assortment of tail feathers and glue onto your rooster.

Add some wing feathers too.

Give one of these roosters a try and I'll see you next time!