• Gain knowledge of Frida Kahlo’s life
and use that knowledge to explore
her artwork and creative process.
• Use a variety of media and techniques to apply art elements and
principles.
• Create a personalized frame with a
photograph that reflects a meaningful time or event in their lives.
Materials
• paper templates for the frame
• pencils
• thirty-eight gauge tooling tin
• rulers
• erasers
• magazines
• photographs
• digital camera
• black permanent markers
• fine steel wool
• color markers
• acrylic paints
• paintbrushes
• découpage glue
• tissue paper
• scissors
• masking tape
• acid-free glue
• The Frame reproduction by
Frida Kahlo
Leticia Aguilar, grade four.
the back. Once the students had a
deep indentation, they smoothed
out the embossing further with an
eraser. Students then flipped up their
templates and smoothed around the
embossed areas with an eraser.
Different Versions
To antique the frame, students colored the entire front, especially in
the crevices, using a black, permanent marker. I reminded students
not to flatten the embossed areas
by pushing too hard. They then
removed the marker in circular
movements with fine steel wool.
Students then stopped or continued
to the next version.
In the next version, students
colored the frame with markers or
acrylic paint. Some students colored
the backgrounds, but most chose
to color just the embossed areas. In
the third version, students created a
mosaic effect in the background by
using colored tissue paper. The students cut the tissue into small triangular pieces and overlapped pieces
using découpage glue.
In the final step, students
attached their pictures to the frame’s
center using acid-free glue.
Assessment
Assessment included an informal
assessment during the initial presentation, a self-assessment, and a
teacher assessment at the end of the
project. I graded based on the following criteria:
• The design created for the frame
was unified and balanced and it
related directly to the photograph.
• The student showed artistry and
attention to details.
• The student demonstrated using
materials correctly and finding
creative solutions.
• The student used class time productively, interacted well with
classmates, and challenged him or
herself to more complex tasks.
Claire A. Knepper is an art educator at
Sunrise Elementary School, Cherry Creek
School District, Colorado. cknepper@cher-rycreekschools.org
Photographer: Lincoln R. Phillips, Denver,
Colorado, linkramsey@att.net
NATIONAL STANDARD
Students use different media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas, experiences, and stories.
WEB LINK
www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibi-tions/kahlo
