Asian scrolls are works of art that include pictures or calligraphy meant to be enjoyed visually as well as used for contemplation of ideas. Asian scrolls began as far back as the Autumn and Spring Period in China-- a time frame that began in 770 BC-- when the first scrolls were made with bamboo strips. Many developments have occurred since the scrolls inception. Today there are two main types of Asian scrolls, the handscroll and the hanging scroll. The handscroll is meant to be unrolled and viewed in sections right to left, while the hanging scroll is meant to be hung up on a wall for periods of viewing. Make an Asian scroll as part of a study on Asian cultures or as part of a language class.
Unroll the shipping paper to a length of 4 feet on a flat surface. Use the ruler to draw a rectangle, 4 feet by 2 feet. Cut the rectangle out to for the scroll backing.
Turn on the hot glue gun.
Lay the 4-foot-by-2-foot shipping paper rectangle on a flat surface with a narrow end facing you.
Place a wooden dowel along the narrow edge of the paper and roll the paper and dowel until the dowel is covered. Use the pencil and mark on the paper flat against the table the point at which the dowel is covered. Remove the dowel and set aside.
Glue the area of the paper where the dowel was rolled. Place the dowel on the glue so that 2 inches extend from either side of the scroll. Re-roll the dowel while the glue is still hot. Flip the scroll backing over.
Tie one end of the cord to one side of the strip of wood, and tie the other end of the cord to the other end of the strip of wood. Center the strip of wood on the other end of the scroll backing, and glue it in place.
Study the photographs of the Asian scrolls and calligraphy found in your Asian art book. Select one or several images and calligraphy messages. Examples of art scroll subjects include birds, plants, landscapes, clouds and historical or mythological scenes.
Practice writing the characters of the calligraphy you have chosen with the paintbrush and black paint on portrait oriented pieces of printer paper. Practice painting the image or images.
Paint the characters with the black paint on a final piece of portrait oriented printer paper. Paint the final picture or pictures next to the calligraphy message. Let this cool, then center it on the scroll backing so that its top points toward the cord and glue it in place.
Measure a length of yarn 32 inches long. Tie an end of the yarn to one of the ends of the top dowel so that it is 1 inch away from the paper. Repeat with the other end of the dowel and the other end of the yarn.
Handscroll
Cut out a 4-foot-by-2-foot piece of shipping paper from the roll. Turn it so that it is landscape oriented.
Turn on the hot glue gun. Glue a wooden dowel to the left hand end of the shipping paper.
Use the Asian art book to select several Asian art images to put on your handscroll. Practice painting the images on landscape oriented printer paper.
Paint each image on a piece of landscape oriented printer paper. Center these images on the landscape oriented shipping paper and glue them in place.
When the scroll is cool, roll it up starting with the left side and rolling to the right. Tie it with the ribbon.
