Printmaking
Wecome to the wild world of printmaking! There are actually tons of different ways to play with this very old art form, so you don't have to limit yourself to what you find here. If you love it, do a little research and try something unique! Here we will concentrate on BLOCK PRINTING, and we will explore the history of POP ART as inspiration for your assignment. Let's get started:
Step 1. A Little Background Info:
Let's start by checking out the history of printmaking. (Click on this helpful timeline to make it bigger). You may recognize some of these important events from your history classes. The development of printmaking was a huge leap forward for humankind. Can you think of why that might be?
Step 2. An Overview of Block Printing:
Check out the powerpoint video for an overview of the block printing process. You will be introduced to the techniques and materials we use, and you will see how the final assignment will come together. It will also help you start your planning.
Step 3. Thumnail Sketches:
What do you want to print? You've seen what kind of images work well, and what kind of detail you can include. So now you will sketch out some ideas. Draw 3-4 thumnail sketches to brainstorm some ideas.
Remember to Avoid text...
can you think why?
-what happens to the image during the printing process?
Answer: It gets flipped. So your text would be backwards!
*CHECK IN!!! - Done with Step 3? Great! Now come show me so we can choose the idea that will work best, and we can make a plan for carving!!!*
Step 4: Adding your image to the block
Now that we know what you will print, we need to place the image on the block. Watch this video to see how, and to get some important tips.
NOW STOP!!!
Next you need to stop and think. Pre-planning is a MUST, or you might ruin all of your hard work.
Think: What will you carve? What stays? Watch this video for info...
Step 5: Carving
Let's get to the technical stuff: carving the block.
Watch this video to learn how. Also, check out the images below to see the types of cuts you can get with each tip. Then go for it!!
Remember:
-Always cut away from you!
-Cut into corners from two different directions.
-When changing tips-Don't unscrew the
holder all the way! We don't want to loose those inside parts!!!
-Seperate tips by size when you put them back.
-Throw carving scraps into the trash.
The Carving Blades:
The #1
The #2
The #3
The #4
The #5
The #6
The Cut Marks:
*CHECK IN!!! - Done with Step 5? Great! Now come show me. Let's see if there is anything else you can do before you print.*
Step 6: Pop Art
We are doing our prints in the style of a particular artistic movement: Pop Art! Before you actually print, let's get a little background info on this fun style. Watch the two videos below, and check out the two videos below. The one on the left is my PowerPoint presentation on Pop Art. The one one the right is the first part of a BBC documentary on the life of Andy Warhol, the definitive leader of the Pop Art movement. If you want to see the rest (trust me, it is fascinating) follow the link to youtube and watch the rest of the series!
Step 6: Printing & Clean Up
Time to print! This is the fun part, but there are a lot of steps and a lot of things to remember. Watch the how-to video, and the clean up video (because they go together). I will ask you questions about both, so PAY ATTENTION!!! Then plan your color combinations and go for it!
Step 7: Presentation
Grab your 4 best prints, and let's put them together, Warhol style! A glue stick, and a page in your sketchbook should do trick. You can follow my example in the pictures....
*CHECK IN!!! - Done with Step 7? Great! Now grab a rubric, and turn it in for points!!!!.*
You have reached the end of the Printmaking Unit
but...
Love printmaking?
Check out this list of links to try out more techniques: follow the links down the youtube rabbit hole. Explore! Learn More! Have Fun!