Faux Fresco Paintings Grade Level: 5-8, Cross Curricular - Art & Social Studies Lesson Plan and Artwork by Phyllis Annett, Sax Art Consultant, New Jersey

Description: Faux Fresco Paintings is a lesson that gives students a glimpse of the ancient Fresco technique, and allows them to put their own twist on the process using modern materials.

Objectives: • Students will have the opportunity to draw and paint on a surface other than paper using Staedtler® Aquarelle Watercolor Crayons. • Students will study art history in relation to ancient Romans and Roman Fresco Paintings.

Materials: Staedtler® Karat Aquarelle Watercolor Crayons, 10-Color Set (9-247887-705) Staedtler® Mars Lumograph Pencils, Set of 6 (9-402314-705) orlow-techno® Plastic Eraser, Box of 20 (9-1379821-705) Miniature Detail Brushes, Set of 5 (9-245565-705) Amaco® Self-Hardening Stonex™, 25 lbs. (9-402351-705) Hardwood Clay Roller (9-227478-705) Sax® Extra-White Sulphite Drawing Paper, 90-Lb., 500-Sheet, 12” x 18” (9-206312-705) Crayola® No-Run Washable School Glue, 4-Oz. (9-027626-705) Crescent® Mat Board Assortment, Pkg. of 10, 20” x 32” (9-405192-705) Sax® True Flow® Watercolor Varnish, Pint (9-402420-705) Wooden clay boards or metal trays to dry clay flat Optional Materials: Shade-Tex® Rubbing Plates, Set of 6, Architecture (9-245903-705) Aluminum Foil Resources: Great Cities of the Ancient World, DVD Set of 3 (9-410060-705)

Directions: 1. Research Fresco work, specifically that of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiano before the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79. 2. Discuss this information and offer prints or videos of Fresco Painting to give students an idea of what the artwork and life was like in ancient cities. 3. Discuss how a Fresco was made. Basically a Fresco is a painting done on fresh limestone plaster with pigments dissolved in limestone water. As both dry, they completely integrate, causing these works to last for centuries.

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Mexican Tin Foil Relief Multicultural Grades 5-12

Directions, cont.: 4. For this lesson, students will do a combination of drawing, dry brush and wash techniques with the Staedlter® Watercolor Crayons on an air-dried slab of Stonex™ Clay. The pigments will sink into the clay to simulate the ancient Fresco process. 5. Roll out a slab of Stonex™ Clay approximately 1-3/4” thick and about 9” x 12” in total size. 6. Using white sulphite drawing paper, have the students draw a rough-edged shape that will represent a piece of a Fresco that is no bigger than approximately 5” x 6”. Use this shaped template to cut out a piece of clay for the Fresco Painting. Texture the surface of the wet clay slightly with Rubbing Plates or crumpled up aluminum foil to simulate a wall’s texture. 7. Allow the Stonex™ shapes to dry for a day or two until they are completely dry. 8. Students will study Fresco work of the ancient Romans of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiano for subject matter to create a small sketch for their own work. 9. Sketches will be done in pencil directly on the clay slab. 10. The Staedlter® Watercolors will be used to draw color directly on the clay slabs. They will be used for line, wash and dry brush techniques. 11. To soften areas of color and have colors sink into the clay as in a Fresco process, students will begin to do washes using the miniature detail brushes. 12. Inform the students of the fact that too much water will cause a muddy effect because the clay will start to go into a wet slip state. 13. Areas of the design can be emphasized by adding more color and by using the miniature detail brushes. 14. Only after all areas of the drawn and painted slab are dry, lightly brush on the Sax® Watercolor. Varnish to keep the Fresco from smudging. 15. Mount the work on Crescent® Mat Board with glue to give the piece stability. 16. Proudly display your Faux Fresco Paintings.

National Art Standards: Content Standard #1: Understanding and applying media, techniques and processes. Grades 5-8: Students intentionally take advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques and processes to enhance communication of their experiences and ideas.

Content Standard #3: Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols and ideas. Grades 5-8: Students integrate visual, spatial and temporal concepts with content to communicate intended meaning in their artworks.

Content Standard #4: Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures. Grades 5-8: Students know and compare the characteristics of the artworks in various eras and cultures.

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