In Asian cultures, a paper screen dominates prominent areas in the home of well-to-do families. They are often painted with illustrations of historic events, religious and mythological images and scenes from everyday life. Multi-paneled screens come in many sizes and shapes and involve cultural research.

Screens made in more abstract designs have become popular in the last twenty to thirty years. The screens are hung on walls and displayed free-standing on the floor. Materials traditionally used are handmade papers or fabrics of silk. The designs are painted or printed on the paper or fabric. This screen project uses all the elements and principles of design.

Grade Levels

5–12

Procedure

1. Screens can be made with a variety of designs and techniques. The technique in this lesson plan is working with torn paper and an adhesive of polymer medium. The design needs to take advantage of the Blick wrapped canvas and finish with the design continuing around to the back of the panels. The design must be created to look continuous from one screen panel to another. Realistic and abstract designs are both workable. Draw the design in pencil onto the panels as a guide. Because the torn paper is never perfect, the design may change at times and will need to be adjusted with the torn paper. The paper is torn as needed, not ahead of time.

    

2. The polymer medium is used as an adhesive because it never dries brittle or hard so it is valuable on a variety of surfaces. Apply the polymer on the areas of canvas used with the torn paper. Start applying the torn paper on the front of the canvas and work it around the sides to the back of the wrapped canvas. Continue until the three canvases are covered. Check that the design goes from one panel to the next in a continuous pattern. Add detail to the design with more paper and polymer layers. If the paper edges do not adhere, add a little polymer underneath the loose areas.

    

3. When the panels are complete, brush a layer of the polymer over the complete paper design. Do not “over-brush” the polymer surface, which could cause it to turn cloudy or milky.

    

4. Measure 3" from the top of the inside edge between the first and second panels. Place the hinge on the dot, aligning the top hole. Use screwdriver to insert top and bottom screws and repeat on the second panel. Repeat the process on the 3" measurement at the bottom. Repeat on the second and third panels.

National Standards

Content Standard #1 — Understanding and applying media, techniques and processes

5-8

• Students intentionally take advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques, and processes to enhance communication of their experiences and ideas.

9-12

• Students apply media, techniques and processes with sufficient skill, confidence and sensitivity that their intentions are carried out in their artworks.

Content Standard #2 — Using knowledge of structures and functions

5-8

• Students generalize about the effects of visual structures and functions and reflect upon these effects in their own work.

9-12

• Students demonstrate the ability to form and defend judgments about the characteristics and structures to accomplish commercial, personal, communal or other purposes of art.

Content Standard #3 — Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols and ideas

5-8

• Students integrate visual, spatial and temporal concepts with content to communicate inteded meaning in their artworks.

9-12

• Students reflect on how artworks differ visually, spatially, temporally and functionally and describe how these are related to history and culture.

Content Standard #4 — Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures

5-8

• Students describe and place a variety of art objects in historical and cultural contexts.

9-12

• Students describe the function and explore the meaning of specific art objects within varied cultures, times and places.

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