The mola forms part of the traditional outfit of a Kuna woman, two mola panels being incorporated as front and back panels in a blouse….Molas have their origin in body painting. Only after colonization by the Spanish and contact with missionaries did the Kuna start to transfer their traditional geometric designs on fabric, first by painting directly on the fabric and later by using the technique of reverse applique….As an inspiration for their designs, the Kuna first used the geometrical patterns which have been used for body painting before. In the past 50 years, they also started to depict realistic and abstract designs of flowers, sea animals and birds. (Wikipedia)
Drawing Research a wild animal that lives in northern Minnesota. Draw it fully – the entire body. Based on your animal drawing create a mola design in pencil on the back of a black sheet of paper. The silhouette of the animal should be simple and fill the space. Fill the background with repetitive shapes (see examples).
Creating the Mola Using an x-acto knife (participate in the safety demonstration) cut out the shapes – leaving the background whole. Use a card board sheet underneath your paper for protection of the knife, table and to better cut the paper clean.
Choose three additional colors of hand painted paper. Colors need to show good contrast.
Once the first layer (black) is completely cut glue the second color to the back of the black sheet. Cut the second color leaving a small (1/8″-1/4″) border evenly around – inside each shape. Repeat with two more layers of color. Complete by gluing on sheet to the back of all the sheets.
