Foil weavings

Arts & Activities, Dec, 2003 by Len Mathes

I am always trying to investigate how those familiar, simple art projects that I grew up with lend themselves to new, undiscovered treatments that are both beautiful yet challenging for my advanced art students. Often the projects I used with my elementary students hold a familiar fascination for older students. I also discover, to my dismay, that I am wrong in assuming my older students have already "done that" somewhere in the early elementary art training.

A terrific example is a project I created by chance when I was rummaging through my ancient cache of student art projects from years gone by--a woven place mat made from two colors of construction paper. One of my seniors saw the sample and wanted to know how it was done. Well! I couldn't wait to demonstrate what wonderful designs can be achieved when you cut your woven strips in various wavy forms. I demonstrated the simple technique to my advanced art class and had them each make a simple 9" x 12" sampler.

As with most of my brainstorms, I then started to wonder about the next step. What can we do to this to create something unique, challenging and individual? We had created a previous project using gold-toned foil upon which we incised Celtic designs. Why not create a weaving using foil instead of construction paper? Thus, a wonderful project was born.

After completing a 9" x 12" sampler, each student received two 12" x 18" sheets of gold toned foil. Students were cautioned that these sheets must be handled with care as the edges are very sharp.

I decided that simply weaving the foil with another piece of foil would be boring. In the elementary construction paper weavings, it was the colors that made the weavings visually interesting.

We experimented with coloring the foil, being: careful not to cover up the "gold." Our experimentation led to an exciting discovery. Using a thin acrylic, metallic "wash" on the foil enhanced the surface and created a wondrous luminescent surface. Better yet--drips, splashes, splatters and runs made things even more interesting. After deciding to use sponges or spray bottles filled with paint, we were ready to begin.

Students decorated their two panels with great enthusiasm. We discovered that the key to a successful weaving is to paint each panel with high/low contrast from one side to the other and later reverse those contrasting areas when weaving. Other discoveries: Each panel might be painted differently, or one panel may he painted with a more solid color and a scratchboard technique may be used to scratch out patterns and designs.

Now the second phase of discovery was about to begin, One side of a foil panel is taped to a piece of cardboard that is larger than the foil. A line is scored into the foil near the tape-line. Using scissors, the student then carefully cuts a series of vertical strips into the foil cutting just a little past the scored line. Be careful to avoid making all of the strips the same width. Vary your strips: thick and thin.

Once the panel is cut into strips (but still being held together along the tape-line), carefully smooth them out by placing a piece of paper over the top and flattening the strips.

Take the second panel and cut off your first horizontal strip. My students found it easier to weave the foil strips by folding up every other vertical strip on the cardboard, laying down your new horizontal strip to be woven, then folding hack down the vertical strips. Make sure the weave fits tightly together and line up your horizontal strips either on the left or right side.

Once a woven piece fits tightly, tape it down at both ends. Continue to weave, making sure each horizontal piece fits tightly, and tape each piece down as yon finish. When you finish, apply 1-inch masking tape around all edges. You will have some salvage--save it!

In itself, the 12" x 18" woven panel is fantastic. But the best part is now to come. I give each student a piece of 11" x 17" mat board. They are to cut this into two or three shapes, then "trim" a bit to allow the foil to be wrapped around each piece. Be creative and use as much of the board as you can.

The pieces are then layered or stacked on a black presentation board and glued in place. "Risers" (strips of board of various heights, formed into triangles and glued to the back of the pieces) may be placed underneath to create an even more dramatic effect. Any remaining foil scraps may be curled by wrapping around pencils, pens, etc., to create even more interesting shapes and forms. Don't forget to share the extra pieces with each other. Your blue foil might look terrific on my red. The possibilities are endless and the results are fun!

Len Mathes teaches art at South El Monte (California) High School.