African Masks with Scratch Art Paper

Materials:

• 8-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ multi-color Scratch Art paper
• 9″x12″ colored construction paper
• stapler
• 8-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ copy paper
• wooden sticks for scratching

Directions:
1. First, look at examples of African masks.  Note the stylized features and geometric shapes and patterns.
2. Fold your copy paper in half so that the long edges meet.
3. Cut out a head shape on the fold, rounded at the top and pointed at the bottom.
4. Then, fold your paper the other direction, with the fold closer to the top.  Draw your eyes on this fold line.
5. Next, add a nose, mouth, eyebrows and some geometric patterns to your face.  Keep your designs simple and “stylized”.
6. Staple your Scratch Art paper to the construction paper at the corners.  (Try to touch the black surface as little as possible while you’re working.  The oil from your hands will make the black more difficult to scratch off.  By stapling it to a larger, colored paper, you not only have a colorful frame for your art, but also a way to handle it without touching the black surface!)
7. Center the face you just drew over your black Scratch Art paper and trace around it and over all your lines.  When you lift your drawing, you will see an impression of your drawing on the black paper.
8. Now the real fun begins!  Use a wooden stick to scratch your drawing onto your Scratch Art paper.  Avoid scratching out large solid areas – just scratch away patterns instead!
9. If you want, you can use markers to add a bold, geometric pattern to your border.