WHAM! Paper Relief Sculptures

Do you have students who are engaged with graphic novels? Maybe more along the lines of traditional comic books? This lesson is great for 4th – 7th grade students!

6th grade student example

Here is a Google Slide that introduces Lichtenstein, pop art, ben day dots and reviews primary colors.

Process Overview: Have students brainstorm ideas before starting. This will ensure that they do not waste a bunch of paper and it cuts down on wasting time “thinking” when they should be working. Project was created on basic primary colored construction paper (along with black and white).

2. Once they have an idea, they should start constructing from the bottom and work their way up through their layers. This will ensure that they are going from big to small. Push their creativity! Don’t just draw basic clouds, lightning bolts and spike like shapes. Encourage them to create an image that represents the onomatopoeia they are focusing on. Example: “crash” could have two cars hitting one another. Every single thing should be cut out before gluing together.

3. Introduce printmaking with bubble wrap to create ben day dot effects. You can have students use extra colors but I only allowed my students to use the primary colors. I’ve taught this technique 2 separate ways. One way is to have students use a basic paint brush and tempera paint to apply the paint. The other option is to teach students how to use a brayer.

5th graders using a brayer to spread paint onto bubble wrap

4. After all desired pieces are printed and dried, students will begin attaching their entire sculpture together. You can use cut up pieces of cardboard or foam board to create a 3D layer (slight relief) effect. I supervised my students while they used a hot glue gun to assemble the foam pieces. Regular glue might not be strong enough.

Close up of foam board pieces

Below are student examples. Older students have access to X-Acto knives which creates more dynamic shapes/angles. The following were done by 6th & 7th graders.