Child drawing

Folk Art: Micrography

Categories:
Arts and Culture
Ages:
9-12

Micrography is a centuries-old Jewish art form using tiny written words to make decorative pictures. A highly skilled micrography artist might write the entire biblical book of Jonah in the shape of a whale or the book of Esther in the shape of a crown. 

Invite your grandchildren to experiment with this art form. Ask them to draw a simple picture in pencil and write a list of 10 to 20 words the picture suggests to them. They might associate house, for example, with the words bedroom, kitchen, television, love, and the names of family members, or a picture in the shape of a dreidel with the words Hanukkah, latkes, gelt, oil, menorah, family, and presents. In very small print and whatever colors they like, have them write the words on the outline of the picture or arranged to fill in the outline.

Click HERE to explore more about micrography.