Enhancing Students' Skills byTeaching the Ecoprint Technique
Enhancing Students' Skills byTeaching the Ecoprint Technique
Natural wealth as a source of colour media plays a crucial role in the process of creating artwork using the ecoprint technique. The creation of artworks with the ecoprint technique requires various types of leaves and flowers that produce colours and patterns on fabric. This is especially significant in tropical countries, where millions of plant species are spread across every island. The skill development activity through the making of ecoprint tote bags is targeted at 4th-grade elementary school students as a foundation for understanding natural colours, a unique and exploratory technique, and enhancing the artistic side of students.
How does one do ecoprinting?
In ecoprinting, students can get creative with tote bags using the natural printing technique (ecoprint). The printing process involves several steps.
First, the teacher and students prepare the materials needed for ecoprinting.
Then, a plastic sheet is spread out, and the fabric that has undergone mordanting (a fabric treatment process using soda ash, alum, and TRO or liquid wax) is placed on it. Mordanting, or fabric processing, involves soaking the fabric in a warm water mixture with alum and vinegar for one hour.
After that, the fabric is dried under direct sunlight until it is half-dry.
Next, students arrange the plants used as replicas on the half-dry fabric, creating patterns based on their creativity. The arranged plants are then hammered using a mallet to transfer their natural dyes onto the fabric. The hammering should be firm and even to ensure proper colour imprinting.
What skills are enhanced by the learning of art techniques?
Early-age exploration can foster creativity, allowing children to generate new ideas more easily. Socialisation skills and the ability to adapt are positively impacted especially as they work in teams. Cooperation and learning to make then supporting group decisions develop by working together. Introducing art to children enables them to express themselves and convey their imagination. Artistic activities can also enhance concentration and build children's self-confidence.
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