Papel Impresió
“Day of the Dead” Potato Skull Prints
This is an independent activity to be done when there is
waiting time in the calacas process.
Here is my interpretation of the traditional Papel Picado (cut paper)
using a technique called printmaking; you will be cutting a skull's face into a potato half.
This produces a stamp that can be used over and over again within a day or two.
Read this over, look at the samples in the classroom, and then ask Ms. Koopman for the materials.
Be sure to remember your manners when working with paint, and place wet papers in the drying rack.
Leave potatoes in a meat tray for others to use.
Materials:
• potato, cut in half
• paper towels
• pencil
• ice cream sticks, chop sticks, sharp sticks for cutting eyes, nose, and mouth
• white paint
• clean meat trays
• black paper (construction paper or tissue paper)
• string and a glue stick to hang your flags
1. Take a half of a potato and pat it dry with a paper towel.
2. Use a pencil to draw an outline of a skull’s eyes, nose, and mouth on the cut surface of the potato.
3. Then carefully cut away the areas you have outlined with a stick.
Be sure to throw away the potato that you cut away.
4. Pat the surface of the potato dry. Put a small amount of white paint into a meat tray, brush it out to a thin layer, then dip the potato stamp into it. Be careful not to get too much paint on it.
5. Press the potato gently straight down onto the paper, then lift it straight up, so that it will not smudge. Make a pattern: repeat your skull print over and over on your paper. Be sure to leave a one inch space at the top of the paper.
6. Option: trade your potato stamp with another student to add variety to your papel, or use one from another class that is at the printmaking station.
7. Place wet papels on the drying rack.
8. Next day, when the prints are dry, fold over 1/2 inch at the top and hang it from a string suspended across the room. Add just a dab of glue stick to keep the fold together. |
