Jasper Johns 3D Painting

Jasper Johns is an American artist whose richly covered number paintings like this, rose to prominence in the 1950s. I created this project so students could make a miniature version, and recycle an old CD case as well.

1. Six 1 1/2" foam numbers or letters are arranged on an old CD case, the 1/4" thick variety. The students glue them down with white glue and let dry.

2. Gesso is needed to make the background opaque, so the entire CD front and sides are painted and let dry.

3. A second coat of gesso is painted and let dry.

4. Students use a pencil to draw the checkerboard lines between the numbers. They may choose two colors of acrylic and paint the board in a checkerboard style. The paint is let to dry.

5. Using a flat brush, students use one color of acrylic to “dry brush” a few vertical strokes in random spots.

6. Finally, students paint one last color in the same manner. Note: Restraint is needed here, the goal is to have a layered look with all of the colors still showing at the end.

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Jasper Johns Numbers

Jasper Johns, a master American artist, was the first to use everyday objects as his subject matter. One of his most famous paintings was just a grid with many numbers. Some math teachers find this art project helpful to have students practice lining up columns of numbers.

1. I printed up sheets of paper that were already divided into three columns of three squares. Ask the students to write single digit numbers only from the top left to the bottom right square in pencil.
2. The students are to trace all the numbers with a thick black marker.
3. Pass out lots of oil pastels and instruct students to color in each square, adding details as they desire.

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