First Printmaking Project

I learned in my afterschool printmaking class, once again, that keeping things simple really helps to introduce young students to a new process.

1. I spied some foam gingerbread men recently at the art store and knew they would make great printmaking shapes. My prep...

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Monoprint Holiday Stars

 My afterschool printmaking class last week learned how to make simple monoprints. I found that given the diversity of students (and the young age) this very simple star drawing on plexiglass plates worked really well. Some also drew simple snowflakes after their stars were complete.

1. Each student worked...

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Turkey “Hand” Print

The idea of turning a hand into a turkey has been around for awhile. Here’s a twist using a craft foam hand and acrylic paint to make a simple and easy monoprint.

Prep: Craft foam hands are sold in lots of craft stores. Glue each with craft glue onto a large (10" x 13"ish) piece of corrugated cardboard. Let dry overnight.
1. The students each get their own cardboard with hand, flat paint brush, and several pieces of letter size paper. With my young students, I opted to walk around and squirt a bit of brown acrylic paint on each board. The students used their brush to spread the paint around and spread out any puddles. They placed a piece of paper on top, rubbed it with their hand, and lifted to make a print. They were able to make several prints to get one that they really liked (clean shape with minimal splotches).
2. After the prints were dry, each student used a black Sharpie to draw just a few details on their turkey. Shapes were colored in with pencil crayon when finished.

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Warhol Hand Prints

I’ve started a new afterschool print class, and this Warhol hand print turned out pretty well, for even my young kinders. The watercolor background (quick drying time) allowed for the project to be done in one class.

1. I had pre-drawn the grid on the 11" x 15" watercolor paper, but the students had to trace it heavily with a dark crayon. Afterwards, they painted each rectangle a different color. I had them use my liquid watercolors in spill-proof cups to speed up the process.
2. The watercolor sheets were taken away to dry and the students practiced making leaf prints with white acrylic paint on black paper. It was quite messy, as I knew it would be, but they did all have a lot of fun.
3. After about 20 minutes of leaf printing, I set up a station with one plate of black acrylic paint and one with white. I wiped any excess paint off the hands, and the students made hand prints on the watercolor paper. The hands were flipped for the bottom row to make a checker pattern.

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Geometric Print Man

When introducing printmaking to young students, it helps to keep things simple. Sometimes the most striking images are the result.
1. Each student should receive one 9" x 12" chipboard, a smaller piece of posterboard for the body, scissors and white glue. Instruct the students to cut geometric shapes from the posterboard to make a figure from a circle, squares and rectangles. Circle templates help to make round heads, if desired. Encourage students to make arms and legs with two sections that can bend and show action. After a figure is made, it is to be glued down firmly to the center of the chipboard.
2. Each student needs a brayer, rolling plate, printing ink and several sheets of 9" x 12" manila paper. Demonstrate how they can roll the ink on the plate with their brayer until it is evenly coated, then roll it onto their cardboard figure until evenly covered. The manila paper is pressed down on the inked board, and then pulled back to reveal the print. Have the students try to make several prints until a "clean" image is produced – one that is evenly covered with ink.

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