Mr. Pentzak
Individuals and Societies
 How did humans communicate before written
language? What things do prehistoric paintings tell us
about the people that left them behind?
 If you were going to leave a record behind for someone
that didn’t know your language, what symbols or
pictures would you use to show them what your life
was like?
 We will create our own paint using similar materials
early humans would have used in the stone age.
 We will then use our paints to create a painting that
represents the things that are important to us/daily life
WITHOUT using words
 Stone age paints were made by mixing pigments with
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liquid fats or sometimes eggs
Often, sap from plants was mixed in to bing the fat and
the pigment together and make it smoother
Dark, bold colors like black, red, organge and brown
were the most common colors used
Brushes were made from plant fibers, animal hairs,
feathers, and twings (sometimes just fingers would be
used)
Works of art were often “signed” with the artist’s hand
print
 Vegetable Oil (really any kind of liquid fat will work)
 Dish Soap (or school glue thinned with water)
 Pigment (crushed rocks, shells, charcoal, dirt, flower
petals, or berries)
 Brown Paper Bag
 Mixing bowl and spoon
 Sticks, grass, leaves, etc. for optional paintbrush
 *Please Note* We will paint in class. Please come with a
paper bag and the paint you made. If you are unable to
make paint, I will have some for you to use. Please ask
permission before making this as it can get pretty messy!
Make your own brush if you want, or I will provide a
modern one for you to use.
Step One
Crush your pigment
source (dark colors
work best)
I used charred wood
from my fire pit and
crushed it with a
rock and my wooden
spoon (wrapped in
plastic wrap to
prevent staining
Step Two
Add oil to the
crushed pigment
gradually.
I did it a capful at a
time
The amount you
need will vary
depending on the
amount of pigment
powder you have
Step Three
Once the oil and
pigment has been
mixed, add dish soap
to help bind your
mixture
I added two squirts
of soap about the
size of quarters for
this batch of paint
Mix well
Step Four
Keep stirring and
break up any
stubborn clumps
Add more soap if the
paint seems too
runny
Add more oil (or
water) if paint seems
too dry
Try making a
paintbrush!
Gather materials (I
used dry pine
needles and grass)
Arrange them in a
bundle and use thin
and flexible blades of
grass to tie it
together
Trim to desired
length
This step is
completely
OPTIONAL!
Try another color!
These marigold
petals made a nice
orange paint
Using flower petals
makes the paint
lumpy and it needed
more soap
Exeriment with some
plants that you find
in your yard!
Try another color!
This clay soil made
an excellent reddish
brown color!
The clay wanted to
clump, this took a lot
of stirring!
Experiment with
different color dirt!
Prepare your
canvas!
Cut a brown paper
pag to the size you
want your final
painting to be
Crumple the pieces
up into tight balls,
then smooth out on a
flat surface
The end result
should be a textured
“cave” effect!
End result
Obviously my cave
painting skills need
practice!
 Just make the paint and bring in a paper pag
 We will paint at school
 Transport the paint in a tightly sealed tupperware,
plastic bag, or empty water bottle.
 I recommend carrying it in a separate bag/in lunch box
so that if it does leak your school binders and laptop will
not be damaged
 You will not get a grade for the paint, if you cannot
bring it in, do not worry about it! 