HennaHandArtWhatishenna?HennaisaplantthathasbeenusedasadyesincetheBronzeAges,primarilyintheEasternMediterraneanregionencompassingNorthernAfrica,Italy,Spain,andtheMiddleEast.ItwasalsowidelyusedinIndia,whereitisstillapopularformoftemporarybodyarttothisday.Howishennaused?Tocreateadyefortheskin,thehennaplantisgroundedintoapastewithafewotheringredients,whichisthenappliedtothebodyusingacone-shapedfunnel.Thehennamuststayundisturbedontheskinforseveralhourstoproperlystaintheskin,andthenitiswashedoff.Hennadesignscanlastfordaysormonths.Whydopeopledecoratetheirskinwithhenna?Inmanycultures,womenhavehennadecorationsappliedtotheirhandsandfeetforfestivalsandcelebrations.Beforeawedding,abridewillhaveelaboratehennadesignsdrawnontoherhands,armsandsometimesfeet.Insomeregions,thegroomwillbedecoratedaswell.InIndia,hennadesignsonskinarecalledmehndi.ThisHennaHandDesignsArtLessonshowsyouhowtocreateauniqueandunusualself-portraitofyourhands!

Theartlessonallowsstudentstolearnabout:

• othercultures• theroleofpatterninabstractart• howtocreateabstractpatterns• howtoexpressthemselvesinasymbolicway

Materials:

• Pencil• Pen• Markers• Paper

Instructions:

1. Tracingyourhand:Thefirststepistotraceyourhandontothepaper.Irecommendusingapenciltooutlineyourhandfirst,sothatyoucaneraseanymistakes.Thengoovertheoutlinewithapenormarker.Tip:Besuretospreadyourfingersfarenoughapartsothatyoucaneasilygetthepencilinbetweenyourfingers.

2. Nowyoucanfillyourhandwithdesignsandpatterns!

Tip:Youmightwanttodrawyourdesignswithapencilfirst,sothatyoucaneraseanymistakes-oryoucanleaprightinwithapenormarker.

3. Thepatternsandimageryyouchoosereflectwhoyouare–yourpersonality,youressence,your

ownuniqueflair.Bydrawingpatternsonyourhand,youarecreatinganoriginalself-portraitthatcapturestheessenceofwhoyouare!Commonmotifsfoundinhennahanddesignsincludeflowers,paisley,tendrils,stars,vines,spirals,leaves,waterdrops,crisscrosses,waves,andmore.

“Remember that your drawing doesn't have to be perfect... it's character that matters here - your character!”