Printmaking Project

Introduction to Printmaking
We are going to focus on two different techniques relief printing using linoleum
blocks and planographic technique working on monotypes.

We are going to:

* Execute the steps in a relief printmaking technique using linoleum and plano
graphic techniques using monotypes.
* Use symbols to communicate ideas.
* Define shapes within a print.
* Use negative, as well as positive shapes, effectively in prints.
* Formulate and share responses to classmates' artwork.
* Be exposed to the works of William Blake, Walton Ford, Maria Sibylla Merian &
Daughters, Emil Nolde, Kirchner, Munch, Edo printmakers Utagawa Kunisada,
Hokushu and Hokusai.
* Record process and ideas in your workbook
* Create a wiki to demonstrate your creative process, influences, ideas, prints
made in unit, and vocalize your reflections

Required Materials:

Linoleum sheet
Water-based Ink
Inking slabs Carbon paper
Brayer 6B Pencils
Japanese printing paper for relieve printing Ink
Printing paper or watercolor paper for the monotypes Brushes
Black permanent marker Erasers
Tracing paper Tempera
Masking tape Paper towels
Craft paper Painting palettes
Bench Hook
Carving tools, gauge

Vocabulary:

Matrix, gauge, linoleum, brayer, baren, edition, proof

 Procedures

A. As a class we will discus various techniques of printmaking; relief printing,

intaglio, etching, lithography and silkscreen printing.
B. Independent research at the library.
You will utilize the media center to research an artist and analyze one of his
or her prints. Use your workbooks to record your process, ideas, and
sketches. Research: start by describing, analyzing and interpret the piece
you are looking at. You will be using the following web sources for your
independent research. Post your findings in the wiki page.

Museum of Modern Art “What is a Print”

http://www.moma.org/interactives/projects/2001/whatisaprint/
The TATE Gallery “William Blake online”
http://www.tate.org.uk/learning/worksinfocus/blake/imagin/index.html
Art 21 PBS “ Walton Ford”
http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/ford/index.html#
Art Net “Walton Ford”
http://www.artnet.com/artist/704253/walton-ford.html
Getty Museum “Maria Sibylla Merian & Daughters Women of Art and Science”
http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/merian/
Smithsonian The freer + Sackler Galleries “Masterful Illusions Japanese Prints
from the Anne van Biema Collection”
http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/online.htm
Vocabulary
Hambis Printmaking school-Museum Cyprus
http://www.hambisprintmakingcenter.org.cy/printmaking.htm

C. Class demonstration of relief printing and monotype

I. Planning Your Design
1. Draw several small sketches, develop your idea.
2. You will create a relief print; spend some time planning your composition.
3. Keep in mind positive and negative space.
2. Draw your final design keeping in mid the size of your carving block.
II. Transferring your Design to Block
1. Place a piece of carbon transfer paper on your linoleum block gray side up,
dark side down.
2. Tape the tracing paper design on top of the transfer paper face side down.
3. With a sharpie or a permanent black marker color all the positive space of your
design.
III. Cutting your Block
1. Make sure you are cutting away from yourself.
2. Do not cut too deeply.
3. You will be cutting away all the negative space (everything that you didn’t
color) remember everything that you cut away will not print.
4. Proof print, if you are happy with the results you are ready to start your edition
if not you ca keep working on your block.
IV. Printing your Block
1. Make sure your work area is clean.
2. Make sure you have all the materials at hand, paper, ink, inking plate, wooden
spoon or a baren and brayer.
3. Make sure the registration marks for the block and the paper
4. Squeeze out ink onto inking plate
5. Roll onto linoleum block with brayer use even pressure and make sure all the
surface is covered with ink
6. Place the paper on top of the block and apply even pressure with a circular
motion using the brayer or wooden spoon
7. Make sure you print more than 5 prints
8. The quality of the print is very important the edition needs to be consistent
V. Signing and numbering your edition always in pencil
1. Your signature will be at the lower right hand side of the paper
2. The edition of the print is written on the lower left hand corner of the print
itself. The edition is written as a number for example: 1/25 or 3/5 read as three
of five. The top number represents the number of the print you are currently
working on. The bottom number represents the total number of prints you have
made.
3. The tile of your edition should go at the lover center of the paper, between
your edition number and your signature.

Class critique.
* Make sure you have your edition ready.
* You will post in the wiki pictures and comments of your work.
* You will write in your sketchbook a reflection on your creative process.
These are some questions that you can use as a starting point.
* How did you use art elements in your project?
* What do you want to communicate with your work?
* Where you able to convey your ideas through your work?
* Where you influenced by a particular artist, situation place for the creation of
your work?
* Do you think you created a successful print in terms of the overall design,
cutting of the block, color choice, printing and finishing? What was challenging
about this process and how did you overcome these challenges?
Assessment:
See the rubric
http://internationalartstudio.wikispaces.com/F.+Project+Rubric or
http://www.scribd.com/full/29736973?access_key=key-rphytore0yzo2yhymbe