What You Need:
- Tinfoil
- Scissors
- Tape
- Cardboard
- Black tempera paint
- Dishwashing detergent
- Large paintbrush
- Toothpicks, paintbrushes, and craft sticks for making marks
- Piece of colorful construction paper
What You Do:
- Do some quick research to learn more about etching by heading to your local library, or do an Internet search of Albrecht Durer or intaglio printmaking.
- Invite your child to cut a 6"x6" piece of tinfoil using a ruler and scissors. He can use some small pieces of rolled tape placed on the back corners to secure the tinfoil to a piece of cardboard.
- Have him get out the black tempera paint and a brush. Before he gets painting, squeeze a drop or two of dishwashing detergent on his tinfoil.
- Encourage your third-grader to use a big brush to evenly distribute the black paint mixed together with the dishwashing detergent all over the tinfoil.
- While he’s waiting for the paint to dry, have him brainstorm ideas for his artwork and create a sketch to use when etching. While he’s drawing out his ideas, discuss how he can use cross-hatching to create shading and depth within his etching! Cross-hatching is using lines drawn closely together in one direction and then layered with another set on top to create changes in tones. Have him practice using a pencil.
- It’s etching time! Offer your child several mark-making implementsof various sizes, such as toothpicks, the ends of paintbrushes, or tongue depressors.
- Have your child "scratch" his design into the dried paint, using the different-sized implements to create lines in various sizes.
Once your child has finished, he can carefully remove the tinfoil from the cardboard and mount it on a colorful piece of construction paper!
