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Project #148

Time: 2-3 Class Periods
Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced
Cleanup: Soap & Water

Materials:
Project Kit (see Products Used below steps)
Ball Point Pen
Scissors
Cardboard
White Glue
Paint Brushes
Colored Pencils
Beads
Assorted Paints

Materials needed if not using Project Kit:
Mixed Media Paper
1/4" Flat Reed
Hemp Cord
Circle Punch
Black Sharpie Marker
Ball Point Pen
Scissors
Cardboard
White Glue
Paint Brushes
Colored Pencils
Beads
Assorted Paints
View Project Video



Make a beautiful, foldable, hand-painted oriental fan! This project also has an instructional video available!

Click here to print a PDF of this project

Steps

  • Step 1
    Create a 1-1/4 x 6" cardboard triangle (see image), then trim 2" from the point of the triangle to make a template. On the back of a sheet of 9x12" mixed media paper, use a ball point pen to trace the template consecutively 15 times. Pressing hard will score all of the fold lines and create the fan shape. Cut out the fan shape.
  • Step 2
    Decorate the front of the fan with colored pencils, gouache, acrylic, etc. (The beauty of mixed media paper is that it accepts both wet and dry media). Paint around design with metallic acrylic paint. Fold the fan at each of the scored fold lines made from the template. Next, paint the back of the fan. Our example uses Sargent Art Liquid Metal Acrylic Paint.
  • Step 3
    Cut eight 7" pieces of flat reed. On each of the reeds, punch a 1/8" hole 1" from the end. Color all of the reeds, front and back, with a black fine point Sharpie permanent marker.
  • Step 4
    Starting on the right side, glue one piece of reed to each of the upper "ridge points" of the folds. Make sure to put the 1/8" holes at the bottom. Next, cut a 6" strand of hemp and thread through each of the 1/8" holes. Tie the hemp into a tight knot.
  • Step 5
    String beads on hemp and tie securely. Trim the hemp to finish.


Products Used