Submitted by Denise Pannell, Fairview
Elementary in Sherwood, OH
UNIT: Printmaking -Relief Print - Non-objective Art
Lesson: Tag board collagraph - relief print - non-objective shapes
Grade Level: Elementary (3rd grade shown - adaptable to Middle school and
up)
Alternate Lesson: Architecture Relief prints (suggest Russian
and/or Islamic architecture)
Middle
School Collagraph Printmaking - lesson by Woody Duncan
Note: This lesson was inspired by a lesson on Artsonia
by Cheryl Sullivan (May 26, 2004)
Adams Jr. High School - OH.



Objectives:
- Student create a collagraph relief plate and print
- Develop a center of interest with shape
- Create a non-objective design with shapes - utilizing principles of
design.
- Show craftsmanship in printing - pull a quality print free of finger
prints or stray ink marks.
Materials:
Chip board or poster boards for plates
9" x 12" Tagboard
Scissors, Fiskars edger scissors, hole punches, glue
brayers and printing ink (assorted colors and white)
inking plates (Plexiglas works well)
assorted construction paper (dark colors)
Newspapers, paper towels
wooden spoons
Teacher Preparation:
Cut poster board or chip board to size for prints ahead of time. Decide
how big you want the prints (6" x 9" to 9" x 12" -
Denise uses 6" x 9")
Students can alter the contour before printing. Provide construction paper
for printing that is at least one inch larger all around.
Motivation:
Show examples of non-objective and abstract art. Show a variety of
relief prints. Henri Matisse cut paper compositions would be good to show
students. Any alternate theme/subject could be used.
Procedures:
- Alter the contour of the plate - change the
border but don't make it too much smaller.
- Cut out designs from 9" x 12" tag board. Repeat some
shapes in different sizes (variety and unity). Cut some interesting
shapes to develop a center of interest (spiral or other shapes). Use
hole punchers to alter shapes if desired.
- Arrange shapes onto chip board or poster board plate. Once satisfied
with composition - glue shapes down. Apply glue to back of shapes a
spread to cover the back so shapes will not pop off when inking. Overlap
shapes - and layer more on top. Shapes may extend off the edge of the
plate.
- Check to make sure all shapes are
glued securely (gently curl plate to see if the shapes pop up - glue
any lose shapes and allow to dry).
- Squeeze out a line of ink at the top of the inking plate (sheet of
Plexiglas). Suggest using related colors. Make line with dashes of
three different colors (like yellow - orange - magenta). Add some white ink to insure
colors will show up on dark paper. (Line of ink should be about the
same length as brayer).
- Touch brayer into the line of ink an roll out onto the Plexiglas.
Roll ink out evenly (should make a tacky/zippy sound -with a texture
like orange peel). Roll ink only in one direction so colors only slightly
mix (to create the rainbow effect)
- Place printing plate onto newspaper and roll ink onto plate. Apply
two uniform coats (roll in one direction)
- Move plate over to a clean spot (clean sheet of newspaper or sheet
of newsprint). Wipe any ink off of fingers with paper towels
- Select dark color of construction paper an gently center on plate
(lower paper carefully). Teacher could make a registration grid for
students to use (mark sheet of newsprint with a rectangle the size of
plates - register printing paper with edge of newsprint and lower onto
plate)
- Place one hand down to hold paper in place) Rub the back side of
paper with the flat side of wooden spoon to transfer ink to paper
(using
a circular motion works well).
- Lift paper off plate - sign, title and number print (name on right
hand side, title on left - number edition in center).
- Make additional prints. (stay with related colors for best results)
Evaluation:
Rubric based on plate design and craftsmanship of print.
Note: Denise displays the printing plates with the
prints.
Submitted by Brenda Robson, First
Baptist Academy, Dallas, Texas
UNIT: Architecture - Cultural studies -
Printmaking
Lesson: Architecture Collagraph Prints
Grade Level: upper elementary - through middle school


These prints were fourth place winners in the Texas State Fair 2004
Materials:
Same as above (suggested size 9" x 12").
X-acto
knives also needed.
Preparation:
Research background information on culture and buildings. Make handouts
of various buildings from selected culture/cultures - one idea packet for
each table.
Motivation:
- Show PowerPoint of architecture from desired culture. Make
comparisons to local architecture. Discuss purposes of buildings.
(Look at sacred places/churches/cathedrals - government buildings -
etc). See Lesson
plan comparing Russian architecture and Eurasian
- Demonstrate ways to get details to show up - separating tagboard -
adding layers - cutting out windows etc. (A chart showing different
techniques would be helpful).
Evaluation:
Do details of building show up? Did student pull a quality print?
Resources
Russian Architecture Links:
Face of Russia:
http://www.pbs.org/weta/faceofrussia/
See
Russian Architecture Lesson Plan
http://www.pbs.org/weta/faceofrussia/timeline-index.html
(timeline of
Russian art)
Art and Architecture (some information):
http://www.geographia.com/russia/rusart01.htm
Some details of Russian Architecture:
http://www.minotaurz.com/minotaur/photoshow.html
http://www.artmargins.com/content/feature/paperny1.html
(some images)
Sights of Russia - photographs by Victor Potoskouev
William C. Brumfield Russian Architecture Collection (links to glossaries
didn't work for me):
http://depts.washington.edu/ceir/brumfield/
William Craft Brumfield - photographs of Russian North:
http://www.cultinfo.ru/brumfield/index_e.htm
http://www.cultinfo.ru/brumfield/images/index_e.htm
(photo gallery)
Russian Architecture:
http://www.archi.ru/photo/english/index.htm
http://archi.ru/photo/english/aref/index_e.htm
(Churches Moscow Region)
Baroque Architecture of St. Petersburg:
http://russia-in-us.com/St.Peterburg/
Great Buildings: Russia
http://www.greatbuildings.com/places/russia.html