Molas

Goal:  The student will create their own Mola by using construction paper and sources shown in class and possibly elsewhere.

Materials:          9” X 12” newsprint                 pencil              crayons
                            9” X 12” construction paper base
                            various colored papers supplied by the teacher
                            various colored papers supplied by the student, if desired

Steps:
1.        Pay attention to any and all class demonstrations and displayed examples.|
2.        Select a simple object to render via the Mola medium and draw the subject only.|
3.        Add any supporting background interest and or other support images.|
4.        Echo the subjects, both inside and outside, with a minimum of 3 or 4 lines in either direction.
5.        Select the palette of colors to be used and color the sketch carefully.  Keep in mind that the decision may have to be altered depending on the availability of materials.
6.        Have the sketch approved by the teacher and request a starting color for the base.
7.        Select only one subject to begin with and cut out an area to have the next step down glued on.  Repeat the process and alternate, or change by degrees, the color.  The extent to which you may get smaller and smaller depends on the initial size of the subject, of course!
8.        Go to the second subject and repeat step 7 with it.
9.        When all subjects are completed, focus on the background.  This area may have larger bits of paper glued to it in successively larger areas to support the subject(s).
10.    Continue to refer to your sources of completed molas for your own inspiration.  Remember that there are many “correct” ways to construct molas, but in all cases they are detailed and very colorful.

Why not visit these few selected sites to see further examples of Molas?

            http://quilting.about.com/library/weekly/aa072297.htm

            http://thorup.com/makeamola.html

            http://patriot.net/~kunamola/

            http://www.folkart.com/swenty-3/

            http://panamarts.com/index.php/cPath/46?ref=2

Keep in mind that some of these sites offer some items for sale.  I only used Google.com as a search engine and found the sites to be informative and interesting to me.  I hope you will enjoy them as well.  Let me know if there is any objectionable material or links.  Thank you.

Grading Rubric

A        All of the cut edges are neat and many colors are used.  All of the colors work well with each other and the subject is easily seen.

B        As above, but with a bit less quality all around, or a substantial deficit in one area.

C        As above, but many irregularities.  “Average” work for a student at this grade level.

D        Very poorly cut and glued shapes.  Little attention to details.  Very little correctly attempted and or completed.  All-in-all, though, the student did NOT give up!  This is an important distinction between D work and Failing work.

Fail  The student did not use their time wisely and/or little work is completed as assigned.  Very poor quality of work is evident with the student will have given up, using very little assistance from their classmates and/or the teacher.

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FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS is always a primary criteria for any assignment, followed closely by correct time use.  Original and creative designing of the project is also a must.  Enjoy and learn!

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