Egyptian fresco painting of three women of color in white dresses

Fresco painting project: Egyptian fresco painting

Ancient art project:

Want to make your own fresco painting? This fresco painting project is pretty straightforward. Start by getting some plaster of Paris at an art store.

What is fresco painting?
Ancient Egyptian art
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Plan out your painting

Then draw out what you’re planning on painting on a piece of paper. Draw a grid over it so you can easily transfer the painting to the plaster.

Mix the plaster

Ancient Egyptian painting of farm workers

Fresco painting project: Egyptian wall painting of farm workers

Mix the plaster powder with water according to the directions on the package. Use a wooden stick or paint stirrer to spread the plaster evenly on a foam picnic plate. Make sure it fills the plate and is pretty thick. Let this plaster dry most of the way, until it is set but still wet.

What is plaster?

Use tempera paint

Now take powdered tempera paint and mix it with water, and paint that on to the wet plaster according to your paper drawing. Let it dry. There, you’ve painted a fresco!

More about fresco painting

Activities:

Making papyrus
Hieroglyphics
Drawing the afterlife
Carving reliefs

Bibliography and further reading about ancient Egypt:

Pyramids: 50 Hands-On Activities to Experience Ancient Egypt, by Avery Hart and others (1997).

Spend the Day in Ancient Egypt : Projects and Activities That Bring the Past to Life, by Linda Honan (1999).

Ancient Egypt Book and Treasure Chest (Working for Myself), by George Hart (1994). Rave reviews – includes hieroglyphic stamp kit, Egyptian bead necklace, board games, and more.

Cut and Make Egyptian Masks, by A. G. Smith and Josie Hazen (1993). King Tut, lioness, falcon, crocodile and a jackal.

Life in Ancient Egypt Coloring Book, by John Green (1989).

More fun projects
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