Art Project
Talking about Art
Many cultures have had, and continue to have, specific roles called scribes (people who have learned how to read and write) and artists. For this project, you will decide whether to be a scribe, artist, or both! You will first create a piece of paper that looks aged and then, using this paper, make a drawing of your favorite activity and/or write about it! This project is meant to be open-ended, so feel free to do all these activities or pick which ones interest you!
Here are some older artwork examples to help you get started with this activity. This Greek vase made around 470-460 BCE, has been attributed to the Deepdene Painter. With many early objects, we often do not know who created them, so we rarely have the name of the person who might have created this vase. During this time, the early Greeks developed ways of communicating and sharing their culture with neighboring regions. They often made art featuring myths and folklore about their deities; these myths provided ways to explain natural phenomena, recall the actions of national heroes, and influence the decisions people make in their everyday lives. The myths were often shared through oral storytelling or sharing stories by word of mouth. Myths also made their way to other mediums, such as pottery, where Greek artists would paint or draw these stories onto everyday objects. Here is an example of a Greek vase featuring a mythological story.
As you look at this vase, think about how the artist created the scene. What has the artist added to the scene? How has the artist created these two figures? What do you think the artist is ultimately trying to communicate to us, the viewers? These questions will also allow you to think about how you want to create your art project.
Amphora with Athena Pouring Wine for Herakles, and a Woman Pouring Wine for Dionysos, Greece, Attica, circa 470-460 B.C., Furnishings; Serviceware, Red-figure ceramic with a trace of added red, Height: 18 1/2 in. (47 cm); Diameter: 10 5/8 in. (27 cm), William Randolph Hearst Collection (50.8.21), Greek, Roman and Etruscan Art
This seal was used to communicate among many communities, including Assyria and Mesopotamia. These seals closed documents, but the seals themselves could also communicate information to the recipients of these documents, such as someone’s identity. This seal also directly connects to scribes because scribes were the main people in society hundreds of years ago who would write and read documents. What do you think this seal might be communicating to us?
Stamp Seal, Assyria or Mesopotamia, 8th-7th century B.C., Tools and Equipment; seals, Jasper breccia, Height: 7/8 in. (2.1 cm); Width: 1/2 in. (1.2 cm); Length: 5/8 in. (1.57 cm), Gift of Nasli M. Heeramaneck (M.76.174.575), Art of the Middle East: Ancient
Making Art
Step 1: Acquire basic materials
Find a surface and a writing instrument to draw or write your scene on. This project can quickly be done with paper and a pencil, but feel free to use any other media (or materials) you may have at home! For this project, we used plain white printer paper.
Additional suggestions: Colored Pencil, Crayons, Pens, Markers, Paint
Step 2: Add texture to your medium
Add texture to your paper by crumpling it into a ball. You can go further with texture by ripping the edges, poking holes, stomping it on the floor, etc. If you want to keep your writing surface smooth for drawing and writing, add visual texture by adding crooked or squiggly lines with your pencil or wait to crumple your writing surface until after it is dyed. Feel free to experiment!
Step 3: Age your paper by dyeing your writing surface
Before beginning this step, please check with an adult if it's okay to add dye to your writing surface and that the materials you use to dye your writing surface are safe! The “aging” or dyeing process is messy and can involve using warm/hot water, so perform this step with adult supervision. It is also fine not to dye your writing surface either!
First, find a surface where you can place the paper after it is dyed. You should place paper towels, newspaper, a cloth, or any other materials you don’t mind getting wet. When the paper is dyed, it will be wet and might stain any surface it touches!
Dyeing your paper will give it its unique aged look and can quickly be done with items found in your home! The easiest way to create a dye is by mixing pigments, or colored materials, with water. Here are a few examples of supplies you may have in your home that would be great for dyeing your writing surface:
The possibilities are endless, so feel free to use whatever you have to dye your paper! For this project, we tried two different dyes: coffee and markers.
If you use coffee, mix some coffee and warm water in a bowl until the solids dissolve. After letting the coffee cool down, place your paper into it to let it soak up the color. This method of soaking the paper in the dye can also be done with tea, cinnamon, watercolor, food dye, or any other materials!
From left to right, we created examples after experimenting with coffee, tea, and cinnamon. Your example might look richer or lighter depending on the dye's color, the amount of time you soak your writing material, etc. Feel free to experiment to see the colors you can create!
If you use markers, fill up your writing surface on one side only with the marker(s) first. (The dye will show up on the other side of the paper after it has been soaked in water.) It is fine if this surface is not completely covered with the marker. In both of the examples here, only one color marker was used.
Then, soak the paper in water. You can place the water under a running faucet. You will notice the dye will start spreading fast.
Here is what the dye from the marker might look like after it has been soaked in water and dried:
Tips when experimenting with dyes:
- If interested, experiment with combining dyes. You may be surprised by the color you will create!
- Experiment with how long you want to leave the paper in the dye, especially if the paper does not absorb the dye very well.
- Experiment with adding more water to the paper once it has started to dye--you can make different kinds of marks on the paper.
- If you have other paper, you can experiment with using different kinds of paper; some paper might be thicker than others and will hold the dye and soak differently.
Step 4: Lay out your paper to dry completely
Lay your paper flat on the designated surface to dry completely. This step will make it easier for you to draw or write on it. It will be delicate when wet, so be careful when handling it!
Step 5: Draw or write your favorite activity
Now that the paper is completely dried and “aged,” it’s time to draw or write your favorite activity! Feel free to draw or write things related to your favorite activity. Your dyed paper can serve as the background of your work, and the drawing or writing can be the foreground. It is easier to sketch lightly what you would like to draw or write in this part with a pencil before adding additional colors. You might also want to consider the composition of your work; how would you like to arrange the drawing or writing on your paper? Would you like to add multiple elements to your work?
Do your best to draw or write your favorite activity on your dyed paper. It might be challenging to do this step, so do not feel discouraged!
If you like, you can then trace over your drawing or writing using markers, pens, colored pencils, or any other art/drawing tools you can think of! You will find that some materials might work better than others. It is all part of experimenting!
Examples of some art projects:
