Art Lesson w/ Ms. Jennifer: Ancient Egyptian Sarcophagus and Hieroglyphs
For this week’s art lesson, we'll be focused on Ancient Egyptian art, sarcophagi, and hieroglyphics.
About the Art:
Want to learn more about King Tutankhamun? PBS.org has an entire empire of content dedicated to ancient Egypt. Check it out at http://www.pbs.org/empires/egypt/index.html.
Be sure to pay special attention to the section about hieroglyphics, the written language invented over 5,000 years ago in Egypt.
Watch this longer video from PBS”
Or this shorter video from NatGeo:
WEIRD BUT TRUE!
KING TUT'S SANDALS HAD PAINTINGS OF HIS ENEMIES ON THE SOLES. SO EVERYWHERE THE KING WENT, HE TRAMPLED ALL OVER HIS FOES!
Art Creation Guidance
Now let's draw a gold and gem-encrusted Egyptian sarcophagus in the style of King Tut, then write our name in hieroglyphics!
Materials: You will need:
a sheet of 9x12 or larger paper.
Crayons or oil pastels,
and for a special touch, gold paint. (I am leaving cups of gold paints at BRAHM for my local friends! They may be picked up in the lower level of the Blowing Rock parking deck attached to BRAHM, outside the door to the Education Center.)
Begin by folding your paper "hot dog style" in half vertically.
Now fold it again to make 4 skinny rectangles.
Unfold.
We will draw our sarcophagus in the center two sections.
Draw half the sarcophagus, then fold your paper and rub HARD on the back of where you drew.
Open it up and you should have a faint mirror image of your drawing to use as a guide to complete a symmetrical shape.
Now add lots of detail and pattern using colored crayons or oil pastels.
Last, add some bling! Egyptian pharaohs (kings) like Tut had gold and precious stone decorations all over their sarcophagus, mask, and jewelry. You could add glitter glue or cut bits of aluminum foil if you don't have metallic paint to work with.
Now its time to write in ancient Egyptian.
Use the guide found here to write the letters in your name. https://www.kidspuzzlesandgames.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Hieroglyphics.pdf
Or use this online type generator: https://www.penn.museum/cgi/hieroglyphsreal.php?name=peace&inscribe=insrcibe
And if you aren't ready to try drawing your own sarcophagus, print out this template, and fill in with your own patterns and color.
For our younger Doodlebugs (age 1-5)
Today we are going to do sand texture drawing!
Materials: You will need:
a sheet or two of sandpaper (fine grit works best)
sidewalk chalks (or even old crayons)
Sand (or flour) spread onto a cookie sheet (maybe you have a sandbox at home?) Or you can draw directly in the sand box. If you don't have sand, you could use flour (but save enough to make yourself a giant cookie once the kids are asleep tonight!!)
Steps:
Practice drawing triangles like the ancient pyramids of Egypt on your sandpaper. How does it feel? Is it smooth or rough?
Now try drawing on a piece of regular paper. How is it different? Spread a thin layer of sand in an old jelly roll pan or tray. Just thick enough to cover the tray.
Now have your child practice drawing shapes with their finder in the sand. Can they draw a circle? What about the letters in their name?
Smooth the sand to erase the drawing and begin again.
Yay! You did it!
Please don't forget to email your artwork to Jennifer@BlowingRockMuseum.org so it will be showcased in this Friday’s Kids Gallery!
And if you find value in our mission to bring art enrichment to community students through programs such as Young at Art, please consider supporting BRAHM by donating or joining as a member.
Did you know that a membership at the FAMILY LEVEL ($75) and above gives you FREE access to our weekly youth art classes?