This project was developed to enhance my 6th grade art students’ reading of Elephant Tears: Mask of the Elephant, a novel written by Oklahoma author Richard Trout. Trout is an environmental biologist and a professor at Oklahoma City Community College. His story focuses on the illegal killing of animals in Africa and on the importance of preventing their extinction. The book’s glossary lists 18 indigenous African animals which are featured in the novel.

Before beginning this art project, I encourage you to learn as much as you can about the animal you plan to use as the focus of your mask. It’s also helpful to practice drawing the animal in its natural environment.

Materials
Cardboard
Pencil
Sturdy scissors or box knife
Hole punch
Glue
Raffia
Variety of dried beans, lentils, green split peas, and rice

Process
Make a simple outline of the animal’s head on a piece of cardboard. Filling a 9” x 12” area with the design will make a nice mask. This will be a decorative mask that will not be worn, so eye holes are not necessary. With an adult’s help, use the scissors or box knife to cut out the mask. If your animal has horns, cut them from another piece of cardboard and glue in place.

Draw pencil guidelines where the eyes and other animal features should be located. Draw patterns of lines and shapes forming circles, zigzags, etc. to mark where you want to place the beans, lentils, and rice. Prior to applying the rice, it may be colored using watercolors—just spread the colored rice out to dry before gluing it to the mask. If you’re going to make a lion mask which will need a mane, punch holes for the raffia.

Apply the glue within your mask’s lines and place individual beans on the glue. The care that you take during this process will be evident in the completed mask, so take your time. Dumping beans in puddles of glue will cause the mask to warp when it dries. If using rice, the puddle method will work well in small areas. This is a time-consuming project, so don’t rush. Once you’ve covered the mask with beans, lentils, and rice, brush a coat of water-thinned glue over everything to be sure the decorations are secure. Let dry and tie on the raffia.

Make a hanger for the mask by cutting a 1” x 4” strip of cardboard with a hole punched in one end. Glue it to the top of the mask. Your finished mask will have wonderful texture and pattern and will honor the African animal you learned about.

Celebrate Youth Art Month in Oklahoma
Youth Art Month (YAM) is an annual observation that emphasizes the value of art education for all children and encourages support for quality school art programs.

Celebrate the opening of YAM in Oklahoma on April 4 at the State Capitol’s 4th floor rotunda from 9am-noon.The opening will feature Oklahoma students’ artwork and musical and dance performances. The YAM Oklahoma Flag Contest winner will also be announced.

I encourage MetroFamily Magazine readers to celebrate YAM by making kites, decorating neighborhood sidewalks, or having a neighborhood art-making day. Take pictures of your YAM celebrations and send them to me at rwpi17@wisplinx.com or 4408 Ryan Drive NE, Piedmont, OK 73078. Your art will be included in a report of how Oklahoma promotes art education. Send me a stamped, self-addressed envelope and I will send you a small piece of my artwork in return for your efforts.

Frances A. Williams lives and teaches 6th-8th grade art in Piedmont. She has a BFA from OSU and an MED in Art from UCO. Frances enjoys teaching and getting people excited about art, believing everyone has something they can learn through the art process.

Photo Credit:
Shown are 6th grade art students at the Middle School of Piedmont.
Back: Kyler Adams, Daisja Howell, Jessica Matallana, Kyle Owens, Spenser Gray     
Front: Zach Grimes, Olivia Miles, Taylor Branscu