Final study linocut using black ink
Ideas for Lessons K-12
As usual, the students of all age groups would begin with exploration time to experiment with different ways that they can create textures, shapes, colors, etc.
Elementary School
For this lesson, I would have a variety of different shaped cookie cutters, wood shapes, and materials that can be used for stamping techniques. Students can use stamping to make their own nature bushes, trees, and flowers! Using tempera paint as an alternative to ink at this age, students can explore without worrying about getting messy.
Middle School
For this lesson, I would use the scratch foam technique with students to make posters of any world issue they are interested in. Students can carefully draw their designs on the plates before inking them!
High School
For this lesson, I would give students small pink erasers to practice carving techniques for linocut. Once the students can practice with ink and their mockup, they will each get a small block to create their own stamps. I think that stamps are good for this lesson because the students can keep them to reuse, and I would want them to make something they are proud of.
While studying printmaking, I decided to use the linocut technique. Since my theme is about patterns, I knew that my design would be a tile-like pattern that could be repeated to create a solid image. I hope this will look more like a flower when several prints are put together. During my experimental phase, I used a variety of other techniques, such as jelly plates and stamping. When I was experimenting, I was mainly playing around with different textures I could create. I liked the idea of linocut because it gives me full control to make the design I want when thinking about the positive and negative space. I knew to carve out the space or shapes that I wanted to remain white. The stamped part is the black, which is raised above the surface after carving.
Linocut experiment
Reflection
After completing my printmaking experiments, I am excited to use what I learned in my own art classroom. After researching, a lot of printing ink is toxic. I think high school is the only age I would let work with ink, but using gloves, aprons, and masks. There should always be safety in the art room because accidents happen, and it is important to be prepared for the “what ifs. " I would also recommend some other forms of printing that only use paint so some students who do not feel comfortable can still participate in learning about printmaking.
