Diana Al-Hadid is a Syrian born artist known for her three-dimensional paintings and sculptures that are formed through melting materials like mylar and polymer one layer on top of another layer. She drips these into outlines of the recognizable buildings and subjects in paintings. This creates a visual collapse of art history and ancient cities. The final appearance is of dripping and jabbing lines with only a slight indication of the subject that remains underneath. Al-Hadid uses these layers to create a space for anecdotes, or stories, to be told through her artwork. She references architectural structures like church spires, columns, and plinths from across the globe. Al-Hadid also combines subjects like those of Dutch renaissance painter Pieter Breughel with characters in Greek mythology and historic figures like Al-Jazari, the 13th century Muslim inventor who worked with hydro powered mechanics. Now its your turn to create your own layer of art history - sculpting with melting crayons.
Materials
Crayons Canvas Heatgun or Hair Dryer Tape
Project Steps
Step 1: Begin with a primed canvas and lay out 1-2” long crayons at the top . Plan out how you want the colors harmonies to flow. As the wax crayons melt, they will mix with the colors closest to them, so make sure that you have given good thought to their location and effect. Then, use a masking tape to stick the crayons onto the top of your canvas. Step 2: The next part of the process needs the help of a parent or guardian! They are going to help you use a heat gun or hair dryer to melt those crayons. Stand your canvas up on a covered surface to catch any wax drippings. Now, aim the heating tool downward at the crayons. Watch your fingers! The higher the heat, the faster the wax will melt. If you want to have more control over how your crayons drip, use a lower heat setting. Step 3: Experiment with cool patterns and affects by tilting and shifting the canvas after the wax has melted – force the material into different directions before they cool and set. You can create a splattering effect or add more layers of colors with new crayons.
Free