Printing: Ancient Aztecs

We keep dipping back into Ancient Greece but the girls wanted to learn a bit about the Aztecs so we are moving into that subject for history at the moment.  Usually our history is our English lesson too for the day, but with this project we have decided to make it more of an arty project. 

 

First I looked on line for some inspiration and found an Aztec artefact that is kept at the British Museum: The double headed serpent. 

 

We were looking for something different to do too and I have an little old book on printing and that's what gave me this idea...

 

 

What you will need:

• Corrugated cardboard
• Paint
• A crafting knife
• An old plate or a plastic plate
• Paper

 

STEP ONE

 

Draw out on a piece of paper about 7cm by 5cm your serpent.  Do your best to fill the whole piece of paper.

 

If you click on this link you will be able to see a photo of it and use it to draw out your own template.

 

This one is by my eleven year old.

STEP TWO

 

Stick your piece of paper to a piece of card cut out to size: 7cm by 5cm.  If you want your could just draw it straight onto your card.

 

This one is by my 9 year old.

STEP THREE

 

You need a responsible adult at this point!

 

Using a craft knife, very carefully cut out your serpent.

 

 

Be sure that your cut around your serpent carefully so the features are as well defined as possible.

 

STEP FOUR

 

With glue, PVA glue will do, stick your cardboard cut out serpent to another piece of card that is 7cm by 5cm in size and leave until it is dry.

 

STEP FIVE

 

In a plastic disposable plate, or an old plate you don't need, splodge some paint and spread it out using a bit of card so it is a thin layer of paint.

 

STEP SIX

 

Press your serpent printing block down into your paint.

STEP SEVEN

 

Press it out onto a piece of paper.  You can do this as many times as you like, on a bigger piece of paper you could make some colourful patterns!

STEP EIGHT

 

When the paint has dried, with a paint brush you can paint on the rest of the details: eyes, teeth, scales etc.