ART LESSON PLAN
Relief Printmaking
Eighth Grade

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Develop and use new skills related to relief printing.
    • Cutting linoleum blocks
    • Using reduction techniques to overlap colors.
    • Applying and printing ink.
  2. Demonstrate ability to preplan an image in at least three colors.
  3. Create an original relief printed image.

MATERIALS:

Linoleum blocks, cutting tools, brayers, ink, ink trays, printing paper, drawing paper.

MOTIVATION:

The printed image is prevalent throughout everyday life, but the students are probably unaware of the preparations necessary to create them. By planning and creating a relief print the students will gain some knowledge of the printing process.

History was changed dramatically when Gutenberg created the printing press. Since then artist have maintained a string link with history by creating and developing the printing process to a Fine Art.

PROCEDURE:

The lesson begins with a lecture on the four basic printmaking processes including examples of each.

  1. Lithography - A chemical process in which an image is drawn onto a piece of limestone which is carefully ground down to a smooth surface. The image is drawn with a grease based material. A chemical “etching” process releases the grease from the drawing material into the porous surface of the stone creating an invisible image. A grease-based ink is applied to the image and then printed.
  2. Seriography(Silkscreen) - A process by which ink is forced through a silk material onto the print surface. Parts of the screen are covered with stencils or other materials to block the ink, thus creating the image.
  3. Intaglio(Etching) - A zinc plate is covered with asphaltum, an acid resisting ground. Etching tools are used to draw an image through the asphaltum revealing the zinc underneath. The plate is then soaked in acid. The acid etches the scratched lines into the zinc plate. The plate is covered with a thick etching ink. The ink is then carefully wiped away from the surface of the plate but left in the etched lines. A heavy weight paper is thoroughly dampened and then laid over the plate. The plate with the paper on top is run through a printing press and the image is printed.
  4. Relief - Possibly the first and simplest of the printing processes. Any relief surface can create a relief print. An image is cut into a piece of wood. The parts of the wood that are not cut (left in relief) accept ink which is applied to the surface with a brayer. Paper is laid over the block and pressure is applied to create the print.

Next, a demonstration of the relief printing process.

  1. Planning a three color image on drawing paper.
  2. Cutting the first color (you cut out everything that stays white)
  3. Preparing the ink and applying ink to the block.
  4. Printing the first color.
  5. Wash the block and cut the next color, repeat printing.
  6. Wash block and print final color.

EVALUATION:

See attached rubric.

DAILY PROCEDURES:

DAY ONE

Printmaking lecture - discuss and show examples of the four basic printmaking processes.

DAY TWO

Demonstrate how to begin planning a multi-color relief print and demonstrate procedures to be used:

DAY THREE

Demonstrate how to transfer drawing onto linoleum. Trace line drawing onto tracing paper, tape to linoleum, lay transfer paper underneath and retrace. Use permanent marker to trace lines on linoleum.

DAY FOUR

Demonstrate cutting procedures. Cut out only what is to stay white. Carefully remove material from the linoleum block using linoleum cutters. Remember that a relief image is being created. The surface which is left behind is what accepts the ink.

  1. Proper handling of the cutting tools and changing blades.
  2. Using bench hooks to hold linoleum.
  3. Proofing print with paper and graphite sticks. After first color is cut and printed students cut away all material which is intended to remain the color that was just printed. Always print lightest colors first.

DAY FIVE AND UP

Students continue working on blocks.

PRINTING DEMONSTRATION

As soon as a few of the students are ready to print the first color demonstration will proceed:

  1. Preparing ink - ink trays, brayers.
  2. Rolling ink onto linoleum.
  3. Printing first color. - barrens.
  4. Washing tools and block.
  5. Hanging prints.

PRINTING ADDITIONAL COLORS

Fold paper along two edges of the print so that it can be registered on the block and follow same printing procedures.

Finished prints are trimmed and cleaned then carefully mounted onto black paper. Students should create an edition of at least five identical prints and choose the best one for mounting.

OPTION

Students will be given the option of printing their images on a t-shirt using fabric inks.

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