How To: Huichol Yarn Art

Bright-colored yarn is used to make Huichol artwork.

Huichol Indians live in a remote region of Mexico's Sierra Madre Mountains. The tribe keeps its ancient culture alive, in part, through its art. The Huichol create vibrant images known as "nierikas" or "nieli'kas" as religious offerings meant to represent the tribe's belief that each person makes his own reality, according to online resource Mexconnect. Nierikas are waxed wooden panels into which colorful yarn is tightly pressed to create "paintings." The paintings are usually images of wildlife and hold spiritual significance to the tribal group. You don't need to go to Mexico to enjoy Huichol beautiful yarn art. You can create Huichol artwork yourself or with your children.

Things You'll Need

• 8- by 10-inch piece of wood or heavy cardboard
• Pencil
• Brightly colored yarn
• Scissors
• Craft glue
• Spray-on varnish

Instructions

1. Research different Huichol yarn paintings to get ideas for your artwork. You can fine examples on-line or visit a local library for information. Important images in Huichol culture are deer, peyote cactus, corn, earth, sun, water, fire and humans, according to arts education organization Community Arts Research Exchange.

2. Draw your design on the wood or cardboard using a dark pencil. Cut 24-inch pieces of yarn in the colors you will use in your pattern and set them aside. Colors should be bright and include colors that contrast and that complement each other, says CARE

3. Cover your entire wood or cardboard canvas with white glue. Place pieces of yarn around the outlines of your drawing, flattening the yarn with your fingers as you work.

4. Fill the interiors of your shapes, starting at their centers with tight, concentric lines of yarn, using multiple colors for each shape.

5. Fill in the background of your design in a color that allows the designs to stand out. Cover in the same manner until none of the board shows through.

6. Lay the finished painting on a flat surface for a few hours until the glue dries completely.

7. Spray one to two coats of varnish on the dried painting and allow it to dry overnight.

References

• Huichol Yarn Painting: Yarn Painting for the Home and Classroom: Do Your Own Yarn Painting
• MexConnect: Yarn Painting - Images of a Vanishing Culture
• Community Arts Resource Exchange: The Huichol Web of Life: Creation and Prayer

Resources

• University of Minnesota Extension: 4-H After School Lessons-Huichol Yarn Art
• Blick Art Materials: Huichol Yarn Painting Lesson Plan