by Jennifer Davis
Sgraffito is a word that comes from the Italian word graffiare and means "to scratch". Sgraffito is a decorative art technique that originated in Italy during the Renaissance period and then spread to the Middle East. This art technique involves scratching through a layer to reveal a lighter color underneath. The sgraffitto technique has been utilized in pottery, painting, glass and wall decoration.
I have taught this lesson to 3rd grade students for many years with a high success rate. Kids and parents find this art project worthy of framing and cherishing for a lifetime. I start the hearts each year in December so they are ready to be displayed for the entire month of February. I have also used this same technique with oil pastels when doing a lesson on Paul Klee where we discuss his painting "The GoldFish", "Fish Magic", and "Around the Fish" which were created in 1925 - 1926.
Sgraffito HeART project:
I like to tape paper to a piece of chip board for this project. When finished and the tape is removed it provides a crisp, clean line around the artwork that mimics matting and I find I do not need to mount artwork on construction paper for displaying. It just gives the artwork a nice polished look when students present it to parents as well.
Trace a heart onto the paper.
The students trace a heart onto their 10" X 10' 90 lb white sulphite drawing paper using a pencil.
Discuss space and line types.
We discuss space and how each line drawn creates additional spaces. I limit students to 3-4 additional lines when dividing up the space. I also discuss and model the
difference between a gentle and tight wavy line, gentle and tight zigzag line and gentle and tight looped lines. We also discuss starting at the tape or edge of the paper and ending the line on another taped line or edge of paper making sure to run the line through the heart shape.
Make adjustments and trace over pencil lines with a black sharpie.
I have students come to me when done to look at their work to see if they understood designing their composition and making sure they are set up for success. If a student has lines that are too many, are crowded or they have a space that needs dividing to create balance, we have that discuss one on one and the student returns to their seat to make adjustments.
Adjustments are not mistakes! Artists make adjustments and changes to their artwork as they work through the process of designing their composition. I relate this to how they learn to write better in their general education classroom. When writing, the teacher has you make a rough draft and then you go back and edit your work, add or subtract word, sentences, ideas, and details. The pencil lines of their heart composition are their rough draft. They go back and change the lines until they have a more successful composition.
Once the composition has been refined, students trace over their lines with a chisel tip sharpie. This helps them to see their lines when working with oil pastels. I tell students that the lines are like fences for their colors. Colors do not go past the black line. Once they move to a new space or pasture, they have to use a different color.
Discuss color theory.
We also discuss the color wheel in regards to warm and cool colors. I ask students, "Why can yellow-green and red-violet be considered both warm and cool?" They figure out that it is because each color needed to make that color, each come from one of the color families. One color comes from warm and one color comes from cool.
Discuss layering colors.
Students must color each space twice, creating 2 layers using warm and cool colored oil pastels. I have used many different types of oil pastels but tend to use the Cray Pas Expressionist oil pastels or Blick brand oil pastels. I do order singles of the popular colors to add as they run low. Keeping warm colors in side the heart shape and cool colors outside or vise versa. Having the contrasting colors, warm vs. cool, help the image of the heart stand out and be seen. What I have found is that students have a difficult time determining a lighter color verses a darker color. I created a cheat sheet that I hang on the board and I will be adding it to my slide show for future reference.
TIP: It helps students understand if given a piece of scrap paper to explore color choices and see how they look on top of each other before they start coloring their spaces. If a student does make a color accident, I have students bring me their board and using a disposable utility knife, I scrape off the oil pastel and then they can recolor that area again the way they want. Very few students ever need to start over.
Create patterns using the sgraffito technique.
Once students have colored the inside and outside their heart with 2 layers of warm and cool colors, it is time to create patterns using the sgraffito technique. I have them think out patterns on scrap paper before they begin. I also model what a tight pattern instead of keeping the pattern spread out. Tighter patterns make more of a visual impact for this project. We also talk about balance and reusing patterns on different sides of the paper and inside the heart to also keep it unified. Not all spaces need to have sgraffito, but when deciding, they do need to consider balance. I tell students that creating art involves a lot of thought, visualization, and stopping to think along the way. Art is a visual puzzle that they are trying to solve.
Students use wooden stylus' and wooden stir sticks to create their sgraffito patterns. If they do not like their patterns they simply use the top darker color and color it back in an try again. The oil pastel works like an eraser in this project. Kids love that!
Trace over black lines with a black oil pastel.
When students have completed their patterns then they will slowly trace over every black line with a black oil pastel. To make the line dark and heavy it helps to rock the black oil pastel back and forth. This helps it to a solid black line and working slowly ensures they trace right on the black marker lines that still be faintly seen.
Seal artwork with Mod Podge.
I use a wide 2 " brush to brush a thin layer of Mod Podge over the top of their completed project and allow it to dry. This keeps the oil pastels from smudging if touched afterward and if using the glossy Mod Podge the colors tend to be a bit more vibrant.
Removing tape and parent communication of project objectives.
During the catch up class, students remove the tape, sign their artwork and glue a small 4" X 5" project information sheet to the back of their artwork. This paper communicates with parents what students were learning, what objectives needed to be met and the art standards it satisfies. You could also have students glue on a small self-reflection rubric which helps students think about how they did on the project and what they would change if they were to do the project again.
TIP: I find that wet wipes work best for a clean clean up for fingers and table tops. So I always have a large bin on hand or ask parents to donate a couple packs. I keep my oil pastels in plastic container. Blue containers for cool colored oil pastels and a yellow bin for warm colored oil pastels.
If you would like to try this art project with your students, head on over to my Teachers Pay Teachers store. I have this lesson for sale with step by step directions, a demonstration video for students to watch, an informational project sheet to print out and glue to the back of student artwork and a grading rubric.
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