6th Grade Experiments with Elements and Pigments

6th Graders were given the opportunity to explore some old materials in new ways utilizing the Art Card "canvas." Demonstrating a resist technique using wax resist (for ceramics) and water color, students watched as an almost invisible image came to life with the addition of liquid watercolors. The wax resist is a liquid and can be painted with a a paintbrush onto watercolor paper in any desired image or design. Applying liquid watercolor paint on and around the dried wax resist causes the watercolor to slide off or bead up soaking only into the paper; unwanted beads can be dabbed off with a paper towel or kleenex. 

Students were also given an embossing metal demonstration using a uniball pen to emboss a design into the metal and to add color with sharpies to the indented (embossed) lines and spaces. The result is a multidimensional image with added sheen. Students were also shown how to layer their designs using an exacto knife to cut away areas of the watercolor and/or the embossing metal to show the design underneath. This layering technique will assist them in future classes to create a multilayered "finished" Art Card.