Mrs. Van Eck
WCS Art
Grade 6
Lesson Title: Glass Bottles in Amate Bark Painting
Lesson Link: Students will be introduced to Amate Bark Painting, a type of folk art from Latin America.
They will be invited into the culture of these people as they view samples of the brightly painted
artworks. Students will be asked to consider just what folk art is and identify how culture is affected by
the folk art that is specific to it.
State Standards:
25.A.3d Identify and describe the elements of value, perspective and color schemes; the principle of
contrast, emphasis and unity; and the expressive qualities of thematic development and sequence.
27.A.3b Compare and contrast how the arts function in ceremony, technology, politics, communication
and entertainment.
27.B.3 Know and describe how artists and their works shape culture and increase understanding of
societies, past and present.
Spiritual Integration:
2.3 Reinforcement of human growth through the arts
-reinforce how the arts are important to human growth
2.5 Transform through the arts
-be transformed through exposure to the arts
Objectives:
1. Students will be able to explain what folk art is and, specifically, Amate bark paintings.
2. Students will be able to simulate the color and texture of Amate bark painting.
3. Students will be able to create a visual representation of an Amate bark painting using similar
colors and design that are representative of this style of folk art.
4. Students will be able to visually explain the differences in size, shape and color between five
glass bottles.
Criteria:
1. Successful in simulating the look and texture of Amate bark.
2. Demonstrates understanding of the Amate bark painting by applying similar colors and patterns
to painting.
3. Successfully applies a border to painting in the Amate style.
4. Demonstrates the differences in size, shape, and color of five glass bottles in drawing them.
Teacher Resources:
Five colored glass bottles
Samples of Amate Bark Paintings –
Materials:
Brown craft paper or paper bags
India ink
Sponge paint brushes
White chalk
Bright, fluorescent acrylic paint
White and black acrylic paint
Paint brushes
Black Markers
Introduction:
Teacher will introduce Amate bark painting and explain the process of using bark from the mulberry or
fig trees. The bark is washed, boiled and laid in lines on a wooden board. The fibers are then beaten
with stone until they fuse together. Teacher will explain how folk art is the art of the common people
and represents their specific cultures. Students will be asked to give examples of folk art from other
cultures.
Day 1
Teacher will show examples of Amate Bark paintings and ask students to identify characteristics that
apply to the painting. Teacher will explain how to make a simulated bark paper by crumpling up a sheet
of brown paper. Students will then apply a wash of India ink and water (1/8 ink – 7/8 water) over the
entire paper with sponge brushes. Paper should be kept as flat as possible while painting and then
allowed to dry thoroughly.
Day 2
Teacher will display five different colored glass bottles and ask the students to identify how they
compare in size and shape. Teacher will demonstrate how to draw the bottles while students practice
drawing them on scratch paper.
Students will use white chalk to place a border around the ”amate” paper and then draw the bottles in
the center of the picture, applying a horizon line behind them.
Days 3 – 5
Students will paint the bottles with bright colors that represent the correct color of each bottle. They
will add patterns in the border and throughout the picture using bright colors. Students can outline the
bottles with black paint or marker.
Day 6
Class critique.