Students will learn about Ancient Greek Pottery designs as they make their own mini vases using styrofoam cups and paint.
By Doreen Diorio [Doreen is an Art Teacher/Artist at P.S. 105, Brooklyn, New York.]
Objectives:
Introducing students to the art of Greek vases while they develop their own storytelling skills.
Vocabulary:
Greek, vase, pottery, red, black, ware
What You Need:
- Styrofoam cups
- Oil Pastels (in black and brick red)
- sharpened pencil
- tissues
- art reproductions (of Greek vases)
What You Do:
- Introduce Greek vases through images. Describe creating and storytelling techniques used on vases.
- Have students lightly draw their own story in 2 parts, first on paper and then on both sides of the cup with a pencil. Emphasize the use of clear outlined images and design with few details
- Using the pencils, have students “carve” into the lines they wish to keep without breaking the cup. Encourage them to take their time.
- Color inside the outlined areas with black pastel. Have the students press hard, then smudge with a black craypas/oil pastel.
- Color outside of the black forms (in the negative space) with brick red craypas/oil pastel.
- Smudge the pastel onto the cup using tissues. An “outline” will appear white around the forms from the cup color.
- After the vases are complete, each student should be encouraged to write a short story describing the image on their work of art.
