Illuminated Letters in Relief
- Three Projects in One
Grade Level: 4 -12
Cross-Curricular - Art, Literature & History
Lesson Plan and Artwork by Nadine Dresbach,
Art Consultant, North and South Carolina
Description:
This relief project uses simple carving tools and a soft carving foam, soft air dry clay, and beautiful metallic paints to give a new style to the
traditional illuminated letter by creating the finished piece in high-relief. As an added benefit to this project, the carved bas-relief letter can
then be used in paper casting and printmaking projects as well.
Objectives:
• Students will study the history of Illuminated Manuscripts and lettering.
• Students will create their own letter design and embellishments surrounding a letter.
• Students will transfer and carve their designs into Sax Carving Foam Blocks.
• Students will use air-dry clay to cast their letter from their carving.
• Students will use metallic paints to enhance their high-relief, air-dry cast.
Materials:
• Sax® Carving Foam, Pkg. of 36, 4-1/2" x 6" x 1/2" (408389-705)
• Sargent Art® Liquid Metals, 6-Color Set, 4-Oz. Jars (409187-705)
• Sargent Art® Sculpt-It™ White, 2-Lb Tub* (407132-705)
• *Project uses approximately 2 ounces per project based on the foam size specified
Optional Materials:
Tracing Paper
Ballpoint Pens
• Speedball® Brush Tool, 11-Tool Master Set (409199-705)
• Sargent Art® Sculpt-It™ Colors, 6-Color Assortment, 3.4-Oz. Jars (409188-705)
Paintbrushes
Printing Inks and Papers
• Arnold Grummer's Paper Casting Squares, 12-Sheet Pkg. (408228-705)
You Will Also Need:
• Paper
• Pencils
• Firm Mounting Board, Such as Mat Board Scraps
• Simple Carving Tools (tooth picks, wood stylus)
• Glue for Mounting Clay to Board
Directions:
1. Examine samples of Illuminated Letters with your students. Library books and the Internet should provide you with many examples.
Discuss various ways of decorating the letters and the various forms (fonts) of the letters. If desired, add the history of illuminated
letters in ancient manuscripts.
2. On a sheet of paper the same size as the foam block, design letter and ornamentation surrounding and/or within letter.
3. Transfer design to block remembering that it should appear backwards on the block. You could trace the letter and all the designs.
To do this, flip the tracing paper over, place on the foam block and go over all lines with a ballpoint pen so that they are lightly
embossed in the foam.
4. Carve away areas of the block with simple tools or the Speedball Brush Tools so that the design is in distinct relief. Various heights
within the relief will show up clearly in the clay (and in paper casting as well). Note: We recommend the use of eye and respiratory
protection while carving.
5. Coat the block with Sax Tempera Varnish making sure there are no pools of the varnish resting in the details and allow to dry over night.
6. Using about 2-ounces of the Sculpt-It air-dry clay, roll into a ball and flatten slightly with your hands.
7. Place in the center of the foam letter and press firmly to pick up all of the details of your carving. Clay should reach all four sides
of the block.
8. Very gently peel the Sculpt-It off the foam, lay flat, and allow to dry completely. This may take more than one day. Clay does shrink
while it dries, so do not proceed to the next step until it has finished drying. Clay can be gently sanded when dry if desired.
9. Paint the letter as desired with the Liquid Metals paints. When dry, mount on a firm board
with a good quality glue.
10. The mounting board can then be detailed as well with embellished borders.
Optional Projects:
1. Paper Casting - Complete steps one through five, then the paper casting squares can be blended, drained and pressed into the foam
mold. Absorb all excess liquid with a towel and then gently peel paper from cast and allow it to dry. (If you are using the 3" carving
foam, each paper cast uses about six 1" squares (varies by depth of carving).
2. Printmaking - Coat the block with Sax Tempera Varnish making sure there are no pools of the varnish resting in the details and allow to
dry over night. Coat top surface of block with printing ink using a hard rubber brayer then print, as in the traditional printmaking method,
to create multiple images of the letter.
National Art Standards:
Content Standard #1: Understanding and applying media, techniques and processes.
Grades 5-8: Students intentionally take advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques and process to
enhance communication of their experiences and ideas.
Grades 9-12, Proficient: Students conceive of and create works of art that demonstrate an understanding of how the communication
of their ideas relates to the media, techniques and processes they use.
Grades 9-12, Advanced: Students communicate ideas regularly at a high level if effectiveness in at least one visual arts medium.
Content Standard #4: Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures.
Grades 5-8: Students describe and place a variety of art objects in historical and cultural contexts.
Grades 9-12, Proficient: Students describe the function and explore the meaning of specific art objects within varied cultures,
times and places.
Grades 9-12, Advanced: Students analyze and interpret artworks for relationship among form, contexts, purposes and critical
models showing understanding of the work of critics, historians, aestheticians and artists.