Painted Lockets(art + social studies; art + character studies)

Over the centuries and across many cultures,lockets have been worn as tiny, portable treasurechests to carry something of value to thewearer.

In ancient cultures, a locket might carrymedicine or a good luck charm. Sincemedieval times, lockets have been usedto carry mementos of a loved one,such as a lock of hair or scrap ofclothing. Prior to photography, artiststediously created miniature paintingsto place inside elegant metal casings.

As an expression of personalcharacter and values, students cancreate a locket using a miniaturecanvas. The front side is painted andthe back side is used to display asmall photo or “treasure” — somethingthat has meaning to the student. Twocanvases can also be hinged together to function as asmall case in which objects could actually be carried.

Grade Levels K-12Note: instructions and materialsbased on a class of 25 students.Adjust as needed.

Process

1. Design the front and sides ofthe canvas. Ideas:

- Paint landscapes, portraits,faux finishes, textures, letters,etc. with acrylic colors. Usemetallic or glitter paint forspecial effects.

- Use your favorite rubberstamp and inks.

- Make a monogram locketwith initials created with apermanent calligraphymarker.

- Make a paper collageinstead of, or in addition topainting.

- For a gloss finish, coat withGloss Medium.

1.

MaterialsBlick Studio® Mini Canvas,2" x 2" (07147-1022) or 2-1/2" x 3-1/2" (07147-1023),need one per student

Materials for Painting andDecorating, recommend:

Blick Artist’s Acrylic(00624-1029) or Blickrylic Student Acrylics(00711-1049), assortedcolors

Sargent Art®

MetallicAcrylic Paint (00730-9015),assorted colors

Sakura®

Pen TouchCalligraphy Pen(20817-4052)

Decorative PaperAssortment (12440-1005)

Blick Academic GoldenTaklon Round Brushes(05838-1008), size 8 orsmaller

Blick Artist’s AcrylicPolymer Gloss Medium(00623-1036)

Materials for Hanging,recommend:

Jewelry Wire (60688-2024)

Leather Cord, (61517-2051)Black, Brown or Natural

Assorted Beads andJewelry Findings

Above: Mini Canvaspainted with BlickArtist’s acrylics. Photoinsert on back, jewelrywire hanging andglass beads.

Left:: Child's art,painted with SargentMetallic Acrylic. Clayheart insert on back,ribbon hanging andplastic beads.

Process, continued

2. Design the back side of the canvas. Ideas:

- Paint the wood and center “pocket”with acrylic colors to complement thefront or wrap painted image around tothe back side.

- Glue a small photo into the pocketspace.

- Glue a small keepsake in the pocket — apiece of jewelry, a lock of hair or othersmall object.- Create an object with air-dry clay or cutpaper. Glue in the pocket space.

3. Make a pendant or hanging ornament.Ideas:

- Cut a narrow ribbon 24" to 30" long.Glue it to the sides and bottom of thecanvas. Tie a knot at the top of thecanvas, add beads, then tie the ends ofthe ribbon together.

- Wrap jewelry wire around the corners ofthe canvas, create a loop at the top andhang from a piece of leather cord.

- Shape jewelry wire tightly around edgeof canvas. Paint over wire with a coat ofclear Gel Medium (00623-1014) to hold inplace.

Options

- Fasten a smallhinge between twomini canvases tocreate a locket thatactually opens upOR a small box.

Copyright © 2008 Dick Blick Art Materials. All rights reserved. JD

National Standards Content Standard #1 — Understanding and applyingmedia, techniques, and processes

K-4 Students use different media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas, experiences, and stories

5-8 Students select media, techniques, andprocesses; analyze what makes them effective or noteffective in communicating ideas; and reflect uponthe effectiveness of their choices

9-12 Students conceive and create works of visualart that demonstrate an understanding of how the communication of their ideas relates to the media, techniques, and processes they use

Content Standard #3 — Choosing and evaluating arange of subject matter, symbols, and ideas

K-4 Students select and use subject matter,symbols and ideas to communicate meaning

5-8 Students use subjects, themes, and symbolsthat demonstrate knowledge of contexts, values, and aesthetics that communicate intended meaning in artworks

9-12 Students evaluate and defend the validity ofsources for content and the manner in which subject matter, symbols, and images are used in thestudents' works and in significant works by others

2.

Above: Front sidepainted with BlickArtist’s acrylics.

Right: Back side with paper cut-out

Above: mini canvas coveredwith decorative paper, joinedwith a small hinge