Create Your Own Texture Rubbing Plates
Create Your Own Texture Rubbing Plates
Texture rubbings are one of my FAVORITE things to do with my art classes-all ages LOVE to do this! It’s active, tactile and MAGICAL to watch the texture reveal as you rub over the surface! Such a fun way to learn about the element of art called texture!
Purchasing enough pre-made texture plates can be cost prohibitive to a school’s budget, so why not make your own-it’s so easy!
Here are basic supplies you need to create your own texture rubbing plates:
- Cardboard or Mat board cut into 6×9″ rectangles (or larger if you want), these boards are stronger than cereal boxes and will last longer for the classroom environment
- Hot glue & hot glue gun if you are “drawing” your own designs with the glue
- Tacky glue to glue objects onto the boards
- Modeling paste (to press objects into)
- Various random HARD objects that will create an interesting texture when rubbed over. Make sure to use objects that have a consistent height! Here are a few idea:
- Man Made Objects: Paper clips, Popsicle sticks, coins, puzzle pieces, ceiling tiles, tooth picks, “O” rings, flat washers, soda can caps, the back of ceramic tiles often has an interesting pattern, etc.
- Natural items: leaves, sea shells, sand, etc.
Instructions for “Drawing” Texture onto a Board:
- Draw pattern or design onto cardboard.
- Use hot glue gun to draw design. Try to keep it as even as possible. Hot glue works best for doing this because unlike Elmer’s or tacky glue, the hot glue will not sink down or spread out the design. Because the other glues take longer to dry, those glues will look like they melt. The hot glue will have firmer edges and the design will dry mostly like you “drew” it.
Instructions for Gluing Objects onto a Board:
- Spread tacky glue all over the surface of the board.
- lay objects into the glue.
- Let DRY completely.
- Optional: seal with another coating of glue, mod podge, or spray, clear acrylic sealer
Coming SOON: Instructions for Pressing Objects into Modeling Paste onto a Board:
How to Make Rubbing Plates with Natural Materials
What are some different objects you have made texture plates using? Please share with us in the comments below!!
Texture Rubbing Projects:
Non-Objective Watercolor Resist Painting with Texture Rubbings
Color Contrast and Texture Rubbings Iguana Watercolor Painting
If you choose to use any part of this post (written, graphic or photo), please link back to my blog Create Art with ME-Michelle East.
2 Comments
I love this idea. What materials do you have the students use once they have finished this and they start rubbing it on a paper?
Thank you for sharing this!
Hi Patricia! This was so much fun and there are SO many possibilities of different textures plates to create! So when we are ready to start using the plates we usually use 60lb or less weight paper. This is thin enough for the texture rub on to the surface more easily. We almost always used crayons (on their sides) to rub on top, but pencil, charcoal or pastels could also be used. Oil pastels don’t tend to work very well because they are too soft. Painting over the crayons is a fun way to make the texture show up more. I do this with elementary up through HS-they all love doing it! For MS & HS they could use the texture rubbings as backgrounds for mixed media projects or an altered surface for sketchbook assignments. Hope this helped! Blessings-Michelle