Third Graders Use Metal Tooling for 3D Ocean Life Masterpieces

Third graders are learning about the art of metal tooling! They each created a 3D relief artwork of an ocean animal of their choice. This unit covered both metal chasing (hammering indentations from the front side) and repoussé (hammering indentations from the reverse side) to stretch their piece of aluminum metal. Texture and pattern were emphasized to give balance to their 3D relief drawings. Once completed, the students used colorful sharpies to add a jeweled effect on top of their artwork, and to mimic the bright colors visible in underwater ecosystems!

The students will wrap up the end of the year by bringing home their art sketchbooks. At the beginning of the year, they designed and created their own sketchbook covers and stapled blank pages inside. The classes examined real artist sketchbooks and discussed why artists use them. Throughout the year, the students have been utilizing the books for "free draw" time if they finish art activities early. Now, the books are full of the students’ artwork, and the children can’t wait to bring them home.