RADIAL DESIGNS
Level: 5-8
Duration: 1, 55 minute class period
Historical Overview: Cambodian Art
http://blog.world-mysteries.com/mystic-places/cambodias-exemplary-centre-time-space/
Materials:
-pencils
-crayons
-watered down, black tempera paint
-rulers
-manila or white paper
Directions:
1. What do a dart board, a starfish, a ferris wheel, and a flower have in common?
For one thing, they are all good examples of radial designs. Radial designs are
generated outward from a center point creating a circular pattern or design.
2. Find the center of your paper and mark it with a pencil dot.
3. Next, use your ruler to draw (very lightly) one line from your dot to the center
top of the paper and another line to the center bottom. Then, make a line that
goes from your center dot to the edge of each side of your paper. Next, draw a
line from the top left side of your paper to the bottom right-and another one
from the top right to the bottom left side of your paper. These lines will serve as
guidelines as you build up your design.
4. Starting at your center dot; begin to create shapes that will radiate toward the
edges of your paper. For example, suppose you choose a triangle as your first
shape. To make it radiate from the center, you would also make an identical triangle opposite your first one and then a triangle on each side. Notice that your
design has changed to a square when it is complete.
5. Continue to build up your design one shape at a time. You will be surprised at
how many times it changes.
6. When you are done with your design, go over it in crayon. Press very hard and
try to avoid using dark colors. You can make new patterns with color now by
filling in some shapes with dots and others with stripes or wavy lines.
7. When you are done, brush the tempera over your design, painting evenly in rows
and being careful not to repaint any areas.
