Printmaking projects High School

My high school art classes did a unit on printmaking exploring block reduction, monoprints, and linocuts. 

Part 1: Large block reduction prints. Students used between 4-7 colors.

Arabic to English translation: The Beginning, The End

Part 2: Small face linocuts with abstract background monoprints and/or doubled up prints that are slightly off centered to create a 3D effect. Students looked at German Expressionist woodcuts prior to gouging their blocks. 

Part 3: Abstract monoprints (small). The process was to coat the block with ink, make lines with a pencil and place paper on top. Once dried, repeat the process with a different color to create layers. each student made a few of these as a form of experimentation. 

Construction paper project: Mola middel school art

I do this project almost every year with Grade 7. If you want the lesson plan, the how to guide, go to my older post: http://www.mrbobart.com/2011/11/molas-grade-7-paper-cutting-project.html 

These are a few of this year's results: 
Theme: unusual birds

Trimming the edges.

High School still life oil paintings

Pulled out the cloth, bought some fruit from right outside the school, gathered paper and pencil and had the students make two timed drawings of the still life. The next step was to transfer one of the images to a larger paper. Only one student in the group had experience using oil paints, for the rest it was a new gig.

I was happy with the results. A lot of challenges presented itself and the kids had to apply some new problem solving skills.

Below is the process and results.

Action photo.

Learning to blend details.

I always advise painting the background first, some kids just don't listen.

I liked that everyone had a different idea for colors.

Teacher example.

 

Middle School Printmaking

The go-to project for MS art...block reduction printmaking. This year's theme was birds because there seems to be an endless supply of them visiting the grass field on campus. The school's adopted feral cats sit on the side lines licking their chops hoping for the catch of the day. The feathers on my morning walks is a constant reminder of the cycle of life. Cheers for the birds that got away and for the cats that caught their meal.

If you'd like to see a more in-depth step-by-step process, visit my older post:  http://schutzart.blogspot.com/2011/10/block-reduction-printmaking-with-grade.html.

Below are a few recently finished student prints.

Contour hand drawings Middle School

We started with pencil contour hand drawings. We made a couple where students weren't allowed to lift up the pencil and attempted a blind one as well (that was amusing). 

For the final project we combined a contour drawing idea and interjected overlapping colors and explored texture and line for the background. You might want to think about NEG/POS space.

Below are a few student examples.