Mrs. Van Eck
WCS Art
Grade 5
Lesson Title: Metal Tooling - Five Glass Bottles
Lesson Link:
Students will explore the art of metal tooling or repousse. They will learn that this is a centuries old art
in which a soft metal is worked with a rounded tool on the back side in order to create a raised design
on the front. Students will be invited to reflect on the events in their lives that shape or push them into
becoming something more than they were before.
State Standards:
25.A.2d Identify and describe the elements of 2 – and 3- dimensional space, figure ground, value and
form; the principles of rhythm, size, proportion, and composition; and the expressive qualities of symbol
and story.
26.A.2e Describe the relationships among media, tools/technology and processes.
27.B.2 Identify and describe how the arts communicate the similarities and differences among various
people, places and times.
Objectives
1. Students will be able to describe the ancient art form of metal tooling and demonstrate the
technique by embossing lines and textures into soft metal creating a low relief artwork.
2. Students will be able to identify the difference in size, shape, and color between five glass
bottles.
3. Students will apply design elements including line, pattern, texture, and color.
Criteria:
1. Can visually describe how the five glass bottles relate to each other in size, shape, and color.
2. Successful in the use of tools to create a low relief artwork by pushing lines from the back and
front of the picture
3. Applies a variety of line, pattern, and textures to create interest
Teacher Resources:
Five colored glass bottles
Visual examples of metal tooling (enter copper repousse in Google for images)
Materials:
4” x 6” sheet of aluminum
Wooden tools for embossing
Permanent colored markers
6” x 8” black tag board
Newspaper
Introduction: The art of metal tooling has been used throughout the centuries to create jewelry, masks,
plates, shields, swords, containers, etc. Students will experience this ancient art form and then draw a
comparison of how their lives are imprinted by pressure from outside influences, just as the aluminum is
as they push on it with a tool. As the aluminum will never be able to return to its original form, their
lives are forever affected by the people and circumstanced that make up their world.
Day 1
Teacher will display five colored glass bottles and invite students to practice drawing them while teacher
demonstrates how, starting with an ellipse. Students will practice drawing them on paper to the right
size so that they will fit on the piece of aluminum. Teacher will explain that once the pressure is applied
to the aluminum, it creates a permanent change that cannot be erased. Students will want to make sure
that they are able to work out all of the problems with their drawings before applying it to the
aluminum.
Day 2
Students will place the aluminum sheet on a small stack of newspaper and carefully draw the bottles
onto it. They will want to push lightly at first until they are sure of where they want their lines and then
they can apply more pressure. Students will add a horizon line behind the bottles and then add texture
and pattern to the drawing. They can add interest to the picture by pushing the aluminum from the
front and the back. It will also add variety if the pressure applied to the metal varies, so that some lines
are more prominent than others.
Day 3
Students will apply color to the bottles with permanent colored sharpies, matching the colors to the
glass bottles.
Pictures will be mounted on black tag board when finished.
Day 4
Class critique/self grade