3 sessions; 40 minutes per session

1. SWBAT describe the use of mehndi in Indian culture.
2. SWBAT create a work of art using their knowledge of Indian mehndi.
3. SWBAT create a cohesive design using patterns inspired by mehndi.

1. 9x12 inch multicultural construction paper
2. 9x12 inch heavy weight drawing or mixed media
paper
3. 9x12 inch black construction paper
4. Pencils
5. Sharpies
6. Scissors
7. Glue
The rest of the supplies are options I had available to my students.
8. Metallic gold paint
9. Craft foam
10. Cardboard
11. Bottled glue
12. Bleeding art tissue paper
13. Metallic colored pencils
14. Paint brushes
15. Colored Pencils

Need these materials? Visit Blick!

1. Introduction
-Look at images of mehndi decorating hands
-Discuss purpose (reference Significance of Mehndi in Indian Marriages)
-Discuss patterns, shapes, how the designs are unified
2. Present starting point to students
-Trace hand with fingers spread on paper, holding pencil vertical instead of slanted
-A classmate can help if it's hard to trace your own hand
-Start planning designs inspired by mehndi with pencil
-Make sure that placement is logical and that shapes and patterns relate
3. Students begin to make their artwork and can branch out to other ideas for finishing. Here are some options that my students used
-draw the hand and patterns on multicultural construction paper, cut out, glue on to black construction paper
-after gluing on black paper, use metallic colored pencils to add a border of patterns around edge of paper
-after gluing to black paper, create a stamp out of cardboard and craft foam to print a pattern with metallic paint (like Indian block printed textiles) on top of construction paper
-trace hand on mixed media paper, plan designs and trace with sharpie, use bleeding art tissue paper to add color
-use bleeding art tissue, when hand is dry cut out and glue on to black tissue paper
-create a stamp and print border around hand on paper colored with bleeding art tissue
-draw hand and designs on multicultural construction paper, trace with sharpie, cut out and glue on to paper colored with bleeding art tissue
-draw hand and patterns, add color with colored pencils

1. Did the student create a cohesive design with patterns inspired by mehndi?
2. did the student put thought into their project choices?
3. Did the student use good craftsmanship?

1. Significance of Mehndi in Indian Marriages http://www.deshvidesh.com/Current_Issue/Desh-Videsh-June-2012/Indain-Marriages.html
2. http://www.katiemorrisart.com/2014/12/chw-india-mehndi.html
3. http://www.katiemorrisart.com/2014/11/art-tissue-india.html

The students loved learning about mehndi and have been utilizing more patterns since learning about it.

Line, Rhythm/Pattern, Shape

Drawing, Mixed Media, Pencil, Printmaking

Multicultural Studies