This was a study of Amate Bark Painting. The students began by looking a photos of the Otomi people of the village of San Pablito in Mexico. They watched a short video showing how the paper is made with the bark of ficus trees. The children then looked at examples of folk painting done on the paper by the crafts people of Xalita. Bark painting started in the 1950’s and the designs originated in pottery. Themes mostly include flora, fauna, and village scenes. FYI, there is an original Amate painting in the Sun Room!
Each student was given a brown paper square (cut from a shopping bag). It was crumpled repeatedly, then soaked with water and crumpled some more. The paper was laid flat to dry. On another day the children drew their designs in pencil and traced the lines with Sharpie marker. The drawing was painted with florescent acrylic paint so it would be bright and colorful. Some of the picture was left unpainted so the viewer could see the texture of their handmade “Amate” paper.
Synergeyes (Synergy School's Visual Arts Blog) 