Standard #2: Elements of Art/Design
Knows how to use the structures (eg., sensory qualities, organizational principles, expressive features) and functions of art.
- Generalize about the effects of visual structures & functions and reflect upon these in their own work.
- Employ organizational structures & analyze what makes them effective or not effective in the communication of ideas
- Select and use the qualities of structures & functions of art to improve communication of their ideas.
Printmaking
The process of printmaking starts with a blank. A blank is a flat piece of material, in our case, linoleum. The first thing you should do to your blank is outline the pattern you plan to carve in pencil. Then, you need to carve it out. However, before you can carve, you need to establish your tools. A tool has two parts, a blade and a hilt. There are different sizes of blades that screw into a hilt. Typically, the larger the number, the more material the blade will remove, for example, to carve out my background, I used a #5 blade, but to outline my fish, I used a #2 blade. Once you have your blade screwed in, it's time to cut stuff! First, set up a stop block to prevent you from stabbing someone. Next, carve out everything you don't want to be your first color (for example, you print green, carve out everything you want to stay white.) It is important that you print your lightest color first. Next, take your carved material to an ink station. You may have all your materials set up in front of your face. (Or you may not. :) First, take a utensil (be it a spoon or your finger) and apply your first color of ink liberally onto a flat sheet. Then roll a brayer over the ink. Next, roll your inked brayer over the material. Then, press your material against whatever it is you're printing on. Then, go back to where you where carving. Carve out everything you want to stay the color you just printed. Then, after your prints have dried, print your next color. Repeat this process until you can print no longer. Your blank, at this point, is pretty much useless. You could keep it for sentimental reasons, though. finally, cut out your prints. Label them with your name, the year, and what number out of how many prints you printed this particular print is.
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