Asian Landscape Scroll
Study the ancient art of Chinese scroll painting then create an original landscape painting mounted on printed framing paper.
1. Explore information about Chinese scroll paintings, an art form used for at least 2,000 years. Many of these historic and contemporary paintings are imaginative landscapes. Others are animals, are used to honor leaders, or are created to teach proper behavior.
2. Study the two styles of Chinese scrolls. Hanging scrolls are vertical and hand scrolls are horizontal. Hand scrolls are often unrolled to display one section at a time since some are very long. Notice how painted silk or paper is attached to a larger piece that frames and protects the painting and itself becomes part of the art.
3. Decide whether to make a hanging or hand scroll. Think about a landscape design (mountains, beaches, trees, fields) to fit the shape of watercolor paper. Cover your work space with newspaper. Illustrate your scroll with Watercolor Paints.
4. To block or sponge print a larger framing paper, pour Crayola Washable Paint into foam produce trays.
5. To block print: Use a craft stick to carve designs out of another produce tray. Press the cut-out designs into the paint and lay them on newspaper with the painted side up. Press the background paper onto the wet designs and gently rub to print your design. Repeat to cover the background framing area. Dry.
6. To sponge paint: Cut sponge pieces with Crayola Scissors. Dip sponges in paint and repeatedly press lightly but evenly onto the paper to print your design. Dry.
7. Use a Crayola Glue Stick to attach the smaller drawing to the background piece.
8. Paint two wooden dowels or craft sticks (each slightly longer than the background paper) using gold or black Crayola® Tempera Paint and Crayola® Paint Brushes. Dry.
9. Use Crayola® School Glue to attach sticks to the front side at each end of the framing paper. Dry.
Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of arts and crafts materials. Some craft items, particularly beads and buttons, are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid use of such small parts with children younger than 3 years. Craft items such as scissors, push pins and chenille sticks may have sharp points or edges. Avoid use of materials with sharp points by children younger than 4 years. Read all manufacturers' safety warnings before using arts and craft supplies.
Recycled Foam Produce Trays—Wash in hot, soapy water. No meat or poultry trays should be used.
Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.
Sponges and Foam—Sponges, foam, and other expandable materials should not be used with children 3 years old and younger.
Wood—By its nature, wood is rough and may contain splinters or sharp points
- Design the scroll with Crayola Watercolors. Learn some Chinese characters and add them to your art.
- Scratch initials or personal symbols into rubber gum erasers to make personal seals or "chucks" which artists use to stamp their mark on their work. It was also common for Chinese painters to write a poem or comments on their scrolls. Friends and admirers often added their signatures or harmonious thoughts to the scroll as well, documenting who had seen the art.
- Chinese writing includes more than 50,000 characters which have remained the same for thousands of years. What other written languages have remained unchanged? What influences affect written languages?
- The Chinese clearly distinguish between arts and crafts. Painting, poetry, and calligraphy are considered art. What makes a craft and what is an art?
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