year 7 Asian artwork

Some of my year 7 art class have just finished their small Asian style canvases.

Students had to complete their work in several steps. They first had to complete colour theory exercises so that they would understand the results of mixing colours.
They then learnt to dye paper using orizomegami (similar to origami but involves dying the paper). They then had to draw a range of paper lanterns from real life. The next step was to draw a branch (we had some very creative interpretations of the branches provided) on their dyed paper and add their images of hanging paper lanterns. Finally, we stretched their paper around a small canvas.

It was wonderful watching the girls dyeing their paper, one of them even had a 'lightbulb' moment. Whilst dipping her paper in the dyes she looked at me and said, 'we learnt colour theory so we would know what dye colours would mix well together didn't we'. It was a relief to know that some of what I teach them actually makes sense to them.

The girls who had finished were so pleased with their work that they begged me to take them home. I agreed they could take them home only if they took a photo of their work and sent me a copy. The photos below were taken by the girls on their ipads.