Elementary Studio Lesson
SPECTACULAR
SKIES
Jessica Nickerson
Marbling paper is a favorite in many elementary
classrooms. There are
numerous ways to do it
and many projects can be developed
with it. This marbling project stands
out because it is foolproof, inexpensive, and engaging, using a sunset
and silhouette concept.
For this lesson, students first
looked at Oak
Tree, Sunset City,
California 1932, by
Ansel Adams. This
photograph is a perfect example of the
silhouetting effect that happens in
a landscape when the light source
is behind the subject. In sunsets,
because the sun is at the horizon
line, everything in front of it is in
beautiful silhouette. We discussed
the science of sunsets and how the
days get longer and shorter with the
seasons.
Foolproof Paper Marbling
To create silhouetted landscapes,
students took turns marbleizing a
12 x 18" sheet of
white paper. After
looking at images
of incredible sunsets for inspiration,
each student chose
three colors of
chalk for a sunset
or sunrise sky. One at a time, they
shaved generous amounts of chalk
dust over water in a very shallow
tub large enough to hold the paper.
Students carefully glued
their landscapes to their
marbled paper sky and
absolutely beautiful
artworks emerged.
Using a rounded scissor blade or
a short metal ruler, students scraped
a fine layer of colored chalk evenly
over the surface of the water. As two
more colors were added, the chalk
dust moved across the surface, as if
running from the other colors.
When all three colors had been
added to the water, students held the
ends of the paper into a “U” shape
and lowered the center of the paper
down onto the water, touching the
center to the water first, and then
letting the edges fall down slowly
to prevent air bubbles between the
water and the paper. After letting
the paper rest for a just few seconds,
students carefully lifted the paper
out of the water and “AHHHH!,” a
beautifully marbled sunset sky!
