Colorific Mural Painting on Silk

Merideth Ferrell

Project Description

Students will work collaboratively to add vibrant color and story to panels of soft silk fabric in this residency perfect for artists of all ages.

The murals tell a story with the students’ own art images as they express their classroom’s collectively chosen theme. All students are involved in the 4 Steps of Silk Painting, which include 1) choosing a theme and drawing ideas with chalk on brown paper the size of the mural; 2) stretching the silk on frames and squeeze-drawing with water-based resist on the silk; 3) hand-painting their art with liquid silk dyes and paintbrushes; and 4) learning about value principles of contrast in colors to continue painting the background. The project is completed in 4 one hour sessions with the artist.

Working together on the silk murals is a fun and exciting learning experience. It gives the students the opportunity to do their own art work AND share ideas, build upon each other’s ideas, and co-operate to create an amazing, colorific final product to be proud of. Researching places, land-forms, plants and animals to depict within the murals is a learning opportunity for each classroom to explore on their own.

Final Product

Classrooms have the choice to work on and finish one of the following:

A) one classroom can create 2 ten foot long by 27″ wide murals with up to 15 students working together on each frame.

B) one classroom can create 4 six foot long by 27″ wide mural with up to 8 students working together on each frame.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will explore the use of ideas, art techniques, and problem-solving in the creative process.
• Students will create and present a finished work of art that demonstrates ideas using learned art elements and organizational skills.
• Students define the criteria of a design problem using relevant scientific knowledge of how things look by their specific characteristics using geology, zoology, and botany.
• Students are given time to engage with each other in respectful discussion of issues, events and ideas used to create their mural story.
• Students have the opportunity to measure or estimate smaller areas to be used within the large overall format of the mural in standard units.

Suggested Grades

• Appropriate for all grade levels

Pricing Breakdown

• The project is completed in 4 one hour sessions with the artist.
• Prep hours: 4 hrs per classroom
• Materials: $3.00 per student.
• Travel from South Eugene

*this residency can be offered to a maximum of four classrooms per day*

**4j schools choosing this residency through the ArtSpark program will be required to pay a portion of the prep fees**

Testimonials

“Meredith met with the Art Committee before her residency and she was very prepared. She came with a schedule to work off of and came and prepared her space before the residency, which was great.”

—Spring Creek Elementary