Lesson Plan: Aluminum Foil -Cardboard Relief Portraits and more

Submitted by: Linda Kieling, Rosemont Ridge Middle School West Linn, Oregon
UNIT: Relief Sculpture
Lesson: “Oh What a Relief”
Alternate lesson - Collaboration - "Tiles"
Printmaking Lesson - Glue Relief with Foil to finish plate
Foil Frame - Altered Book Embellishment - Fine Art Pins by Bunki Kramer

Instruction:

1. Present the idea of "personal identity - self portrait" - a different kind of self portrait using images and symbolism. Show some examples of different kinds of portraits (such as collections of objects). Discuss objects/works of art (this could be done before or after the art making lesson) - this is for Standards 4 and 5.
2. Demonstrate relief techniques using cardboard (and assorted chosen materials) - and way to cover with foil.
3. Demonstrate texturing with dull pencil and demonstrate antique process

Materials:

Newsprint, Posterboard, paper towels, Glue (Elmer's works), Scissors, aluminum foil, Shoe Polish, cardboard for background (recycled corrugated cardboard is perfect), scrap cardboard to create relief, Tag Board, asserted string (optional for relief), interesting textured paper (like doilies and wallpaper - optional), lace (optional), Brushes for glue (optional), dull pencils.

Goal: Students will create a self-portrait in relief that includes images representing their interests. Texture papers (etc) can be used for negative spaces (optional). Create a variety of relief elements.

Brief process description: Students cut shapes for there portrait and their items of interest out of poster board. A layer of paper towel is cut to fit each piece and glued on each piece as well as the cardboard being used as the background (paper towel provides a cushion to receive dull pencil textures).

All of these are then covered with foil. They are tooled with a dull pencil to create patterns, textures, details and areas of interest. The background and pieces are rubbed with shoe polish and allowed to dry. Scrap cardboard is attached to the back of each piece and then glued to the background in a variety of heights.

Art History:

Select some examples of bronze and/or aluminum cast relief sculptures.

Examples of cast relief sculptures

Procedures:

1. Brainstorm on list of symbols/objects to represent "self".
2. Make simple sketches on newsprint for composition
3. Transfer shapes to cardboard and cardboard scrap
4. (Optional) Layer shapes with tag board and scraps of cardboard for more relief interest.
5. (Optional) Pad with one layer of paper toweling and glue on foil (Omit this step if layered tag board and cardboard is used for shapes).
6. Smooth on foil - forcing into textures and texture with dull pencil
7. Glue small cardboard scraps to back side to raise up in relief on back board.
8. Glue foil to background board - and assemble shapes. Add any additional textures to negative space.
9. Write a reflective piece on how sculpture represents self.

Artist for Reference: Michael Cellan - a retired art teacher

Assessment/Rubric (adapted from Rubric by Marianne Galyk)

rubric

Student Comments

Teacher Comments:

National Standards:

1. Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes	2. Using knowledge of structures and functions	3. Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas	4. Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures	5. Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others
Students select media, techniques, and processes; analyze what makes them effective or not effective in communicating ideas; and reflect upon the effectiveness of their choices	Students generalize about the effects of visual structures and functions and reflect upon these effects in their own work	Students integrate visual, spatial, and temporal concepts with content to communicate intended meaning in their artworks	Students know and compare the characteristics of artworks in various eras and cultures (study portraits expressions of identity through time)	Students compare multiple purposes for creating works of art (study portraits expressions of identity through time)
Students intentionally take advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques, and processes to enhance communication of their experiences and ideas	Students employ organizational structures and analyze what makes them effective or not effective in the communication of ideas	Students use subjects, themes, and symbols that demonstrate knowledge of contexts, values, and aesthetics that communicate intended meaning in artworks	Students describe and place a variety of art objects in historical and cultural contexts	Students analyze contemporary and historic meanings in specific artworks through cultural and aesthetic inquiry

Cardboard Relief Tiles - by Linda Kieling
Non-Objective Cardboard Relief - working with shape
Elementary - Middle School

Description: Follow the same basic steps above to create these striking non-objective tiles using shapes, pattern and texture. Pre-cut the background cardboard all the save size ahead of time for unity.

Glue Relief Printmaking - with foil plate - by Linda Kieling
Elementary through middle school (and beyond)

Objectives: Student will

Create a number of line compositions to various music
Create a glue relief print with interesting line quality
Enhance a print with oil pastels showing knowledge of color planning

Materials:

6 x 9 inch (15 x 23 cm) paper (or desired size)
India Ink and Brushes
6 x 9 inch (15 x 23 cm) cardboard (or desired size), White Glue (Elmer's works fine)
Brayers, Block printing ink, Wooden Spoons.
Inking Plate (Plexiglas works great)
assorted Block Printing Papers (colors are nice to use), Oil Pastels

Preparation:

Collect an assortment of music (instrumental only- you can download MP3 music from Amazon). Pre-cut cardboard for printing plates (6 x 9 inches or 8 x 10 inches would be good).

Instruction:

Present life and times of Wassily Kindinsky - show and discuss examples of works (before or after the art making lesson). Kandinsky worked to music.
Paint along with students - make several of your own line works to the music. This doesn't take much demonstration.
Demonstrate how to make a printing plate with white glue - it is often best to put on two layers of glue (second layer after the first has dried - depending on how thick you glue is).
Demonstrate proper printing method to get clean prints.

Procedures:

Paint with black ink to music - make a new composition for each selection of music. Save all paintings as they can be used for projects later.
Select favorite line painting to make a glue relief plate. Transfer lines to cardboard plate (recycled corrugated cardboard works great).
Go over lines with white glue (it may take two coats to cover) - let dry completely. While printing plates are drying, students could be painting left over line paintings. Use tempera or Watercolors.
Seal printing plate
Print onto white or colored printing papers using black ink (or any dark color). Roll ink onto printing plate - thin even coats of ink. Move to clean surface - place paper over inked plate. Rub with back side of wooden spoon.
Enhance dried print with Oil Pastels.
Optional - make collage prints out of ones on colored paper (cut a part and piece back together again combining two prints).
Cover relief plate with aluminum foil. Texture with dull pencil - antique with tempera, India Ink, or shoe polish.

(To print rubric below, right-click > view image > print)

Student Comments:

Teacher Comments:

Foil Frames - from Bunki Kramer, Los Cerros Middle School Art , Danville, California.

Sample showing antique process Student work - click images for larger views

Bunki Kramer done frames with students both with silver tape and with aluminum fold on
tag board frames students cut themselves (poster board or corrugated cardboard could be used). Bunki took Tim Holtz's class and did this same lesson with him using silver tape.

Bunki liked the aluminum foil technique better because it was easier to handle for them. They cut their own tag board frames and use tag board/cardboard scraps to add the relief. They covered all of the frame with Elmer's, crumpled alum. foil and spread it out over the frame creasing into the corners of the reliefs. They used black tempera mixed with a little hand soap from the sink dispensers and them wiped off black excess with soft paper towels. They sealed them with clear nail polish (you might try different sealants)

Furnace Foil Tap Frame: Tim Holtz's mirror idea was on DIY web site, you could cut out corrugated cardboard frames (a local frame shop cut mine for me one year - real cheap - I was on a time crunch) - or poster board mats. Students could add card board relief elements to the frame. Burnish on the wide foil tape - clip tape to wrap the edges of cardboard. Brush with India ink to antique (or use thinned acrylic paints to stain). These frames could turn their work into a real treasure - framed with silver.

Foil Relief Jewelry - Altered Book Embellishment - from Bunki Kramer

Click images for larger views

This foil tape/aluminum foil relief might give you some ideas for art show awards.

Tips for using in a TAB Choice Classroom

Make a "menu" of basic steps - provide assorted cardboard, string, glue and aluminum foil in assemblage area for relief sculpture.
Demonstrate technique to class as a whole when the technique is added to center.
Make a chart showing some different ways to building the relief and texturing.
Students make their choice of subject - abstract - non-objective - look at various relief sculpture sources for ideas (how sculptors get ideas).

Artist for Reference:

Michael Cellan - a retired art teacher