Grade 1 students were introduced to Printmaking this week using found objects. I began by asking the kids whether they had made a print before. Most, as expected, had not but they did mention computer printers.
When I asked if a computer printer could only make one print, they were aghast and said "no, it can make thousands!" "And can you make thousand of prints of the same thing or do they need to be different?" "They can all be the same!" That, we discovered, is how printmaking differs from painting: with printmaking, one can make thousands of images of the same thing with little variation but with painting, even if one paints the same subject in the same way, it will always be different.
Students then created their own "ink pad" by spreading paint onto a damp sponge. After discussing the different images that could be made using only straight lines and circles, students then began experimenting with printmaking using pieces of cardboard and toilet paper rolls.
My students learned that, if they used too much pressure with the cardboard, it would crush and the print would smudge. They also learned that if they move the cardboard after it touches the paper, the print will also smudge. After talking about what kinds of images could be made just using straight lines and circles, they spent the lesson experimenting and creating their first prints.
We will apply these newfound skills to a product, of their own choice, that combines printing with painting. Stayed tuned for some examples!
When I asked if a computer printer could only make one print, they were aghast and said "no, it can make thousands!" "And can you make thousand of prints of the same thing or do they need to be different?" "They can all be the same!" That, we discovered, is how printmaking differs from painting: with printmaking, one can make thousands of images of the same thing with little variation but with painting, even if one paints the same subject in the same way, it will always be different.
Students then created their own "ink pad" by spreading paint onto a damp sponge. After discussing the different images that could be made using only straight lines and circles, students then began experimenting with printmaking using pieces of cardboard and toilet paper rolls.
My students learned that, if they used too much pressure with the cardboard, it would crush and the print would smudge. They also learned that if they move the cardboard after it touches the paper, the print will also smudge. After talking about what kinds of images could be made just using straight lines and circles, they spent the lesson experimenting and creating their first prints.
We will apply these newfound skills to a product, of their own choice, that combines printing with painting. Stayed tuned for some examples!
RSS Feed
