This week, each class learnt how to carve a pattern into either a potato or a piece of lino in order to create a printing block. 

Amber & Turquoise Class

Our reception and year 1 and 2 artists started off by making a collograph block. We used PVA glue to fix short lengths of string onto a piece of mountboard to create a pattern. We’ll use these next week to produce some collograph prints. We then experimented with printmaking using sweet potatoes! We made some scratches in the potatoes with pencils to add some interesting patterns to our prints. Our final designs will be used as front covers for our sketchbooks.

Magenta & Violet Class

The year 3 and 4 artists used lino cutting tools to carve patterns into the sweet potato halves, taking inspiration from the patterns found on leaves. We achieved some lovely clear results using this process, and some of the prints reminded us of fossils! We also made collograph blocks to use next week.

Maroon & Emerald Class

Our year 5 and 6 artists started off by designing an image to carve into a piece of lino. We sketched some possible ideas, taking into account that they needed to be fairly simple. Once we’d decided on our chosen design, we drew it out onto the lino. We were then shown how to use the cutting tools safely, and started to carve our printing blocks. It was quite fiddly and took a bit of getting used to but we all ended up with successful linocut designs! We made a few practise prints ready to move on to producing a series of prints next week.

This week we all learnt some monoprinting techniques! We rolled some block printing ink out into a tray, and then laid a piece of paper onto it before making marks on the paper using our fingers, plastic tools and pencils. We experimented in order to discover the most effective amount of ink to use, and how much pressure to apply to the paper. We also made prints by drawing directly into the ink using the plastic tools, then laying our paper on top and applying even pressure to transfer the image. We produced lots of prints, all with their own unique character! 

Amber & Turquoise Class

Magenta & Violet Class

Maroon & Emerald Class

This term at Art Stars we are focusing on printmaking! We’ll be investigating different forms of printmaking, including block printing, screen printing and potato printing! We’ll be developing various skills, both in creative design and the technical aspect of the printing process.

This week, each class got to grips with the basics of block printing- we tried out printing blocks made from various materials, and practised applying the right amount of pressure to achieve a successful print. We then had a go at making our own printing blocks from polystyrene!

Amber & Turquoise class

Our reception and year 1 and 2 artists practised using the rollers to start with, and created abstract layered designs using different marks made by the rollers. We then moved on to creating some very successful prints!

Magenta & Violet Class

After practising with the wooden and rubber blocks, the year 3 and 4 artists had a go at reduction block printing using our polystyrene tiles. We produced the first layer of prints in single colours, then worked into out polystyrene blocks some more, with the aim of reducing the amount of surface area that would get ink on it the second time round. We then chose contrasting colours for the second layer of prints, taking care to line up the block accurately with the print underneath. We got some great results!

Maroon & Emerald Class

The year 5 and 6 artists had a go at reduction block printing too. Some of us decided to design a printing block that included our initial- we had to think carefully about which way round we needed to write the letters, as printing blocks need to be a mirror image of the final print!