Printmaking

ORNAMENT CARDS

Printmaking involves transferring ink from one surface to another. Common materials for printing plates include wood blocks, linoleum, metal plates, soft rubber, and foam. In this project, we will use a foam printing plate.

Students will create five multi-color prints; one turned into an ornament, and four multi-colored postcards.

Content

PAPER ORNAMENTS

Art History

PRINTMAKING ARTISTS
SCANDINAVIAN FOLK DESIGNS

Composition Concepts

SYMMETRY
REPETITION
CONTRAST
POSITIVE & NEGATIVE SPACE

Technical Skills

BLOCK PRINTING
MASKING
TWO-COLOR REGISTRATION

Content: Paper Ornaments

Art History

Composition Concepts

Technical Skills

SMALL ORNAMENT

PRODUCE FIVE TWO-COLOR PRINTS, THEN TURN ONE INTO AN ORNAMENT

YOU WILL NEED TO PRINT A MINIMUM OF 12 TIMES (TWO PER CARD, PLUS A PRACTICE PRINT ON PLAIN PAPER)
CONSIDER THE COLORS YOU CHOOSE TO CREATE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE TWO PRINT LAYERS
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH OF THE SECOND COLOR SHOWING TO CREATE A VISUAL IMPACT
SCORE THE CARD BEFORE FOLDING THE ORNAMENT

LARGE STAR ORNAMENT

PRODUCE TWO TWO-COLOR SHEETS WITH 8 PRINTS UP, THEN TURN ONE INTO AN ORNAMENT

YOU WILL NEED TO PRINT A MINIMUM OF 34 TIMES (16 TIMES PER SHEET, PLUS A PRACTICE PRINT ON PLAIN PAPER)
CONSIDER THE COLORS YOU CHOOSE TO CREATE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE TWO PRINT LAYERS
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH OF THE SECOND COLOR SHOWING TO CREATE A VISUAL IMPACT
SCORE THE CARD DOWN THE CENTER OF EACH DIAMOND, BETWEEN THE DIAMONDS AND ALONG THE FLAPS

HIGH CONTRAST BETWEEN COLORS MAKES FOR A MORE DYNAMIC PRINT

MESSING UP THE REGISTRATION OF THE TWO COLORS MAKES FOR A MURKY IMAGE - NOTICE THAT IT IS HARDER TO MAKE OUT THE FLOWER

OOPS! THERE IS A SMUDGE ON THE CARD IN THE BORDER - TRY TO KEEP YOUR EDGES CLEAN. ALSO THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THESE TWO VALUES IS NOT AS STRONG, SO IT IS HARDER TO SEE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE TWO COLORS

MAKE SURE YOUR SECOND COLOR AREA IS LARGE ENOUGH TO MAKE A VISUAL IMPACT ON THE DESIGN