Fresco Secco Masterpiece

Learning about the Renaissance and Reformation time period in History has been an eye opening experience. We are current using the Renaissance and Reformation Project Passport study from Home School in the Woods. I didn't realize that there was so much information to learn about during this era. One of Alyssa's favorite topics to learn about has been Renaissance Art. This was a time period when the arts exploded. Many different art techniques were introduced and flourished during this time period.

Alyssa learned about a brand new art technique or 3-D art form that was popular during the Renaissance period called the Fresco. The term "fresco" meant "fresh" in Italian. This technique used fresh plaster as a canvas when painting. She learned the difference between Fresco Secco (dry plaster) and Buon Fresco (wet plaster). If you'd like to see an example of Buon Fresco, you can research information about Michelangelo's work on the Sistine Chapel's ceiling.

Today I would like to share with you my daughter's Fresco Secco. This is the process of painting on dry plaster and sealing the artwork with glue once the painting is dry. First, we made the plaster as directed on the package. My daughter spread it out over the top of the burlap which had wax paper and a kitchen tile underneath it. This was her least favorite part of the activity. Well, understandably she also didn't like cracking her artwork. I didn't want the plaster to leak through while drying and make a huge mess. :) Then, she sketched her drawing in pencil after the plaster dried. I think we let it dry for about a day or two, but it definitely does NOT need that long. Check out her Fresco Secco masterpiece and the process below!

Spreading the Plaster

Sketching Fruit and Veggie Basket in Pencil 

Painting with Watercolors

Cracking Plaster for an Antique Look

Covering and Preserving Artwork with Glue

Fresco Secco Project Completed

I am so proud of her accomplishment. I think she did a wonderful job. Well, I hope you give this art project a whirl! Have a great week and thank you for visiting us at A Learning Journey.

I will link this post up at  the Virtual Refrigerator Blog Hop hosted at  Homeschool Coffee Break.

I will also link this post up at A Net in Time and Hopkins Homeschool's Blogging Through the Alphabet Linky. Come check out the Letter F posts this week!