Title: "Waves Erode" by 9th Grade Student
Artist Statement: I was inspired by how waves turn huge rocks into tiny granules and carry their shells across the ocean. I tried to capture the movement of a wave to the best of my ability using a square print.
Art I students at New Buffalo High School were introduced to the printmaking process with a relief carving technique called linocut. Printmaking is the artistic process of making multiple prints from a master plate onto a surface.
STEP 1:
In the first stages of this printmaking unit, my students practiced their drawing fundamentals with direct observation by selecting shells to draw as a contour line still life.
STEP 2:
Students used their observational skills to create thumbnail sketches from the shells in possible compositions inspired by the Elements of Design.
STEP 3:
Each person reviewed their thumbnail sketches and selected their best design to scale up on a final drawing. Their lines were overlapped heavy and dark with graphite so that they could transfer the lead onto the surface of the linoleum block using pencil shading similar to a carbon copy.
STEP 4:
The carving process begins! Students learned how to safely use carving tools to remove the light grey negative space of their master block while keeping their hands out of the direct path of the tool on a wooden block stop. Many students said they found the carving process to be very satisfying as they cut into the soft rubbery material.
STEP 5:
As students began to finish carving, I worked with each of them individually to demonstrate the printing steps so they could create test prints and determine if they needed to continue carving from the block.
Students learned the proper technique to print their blocks including paper alignment and handling the final prints without adding inky thumbprints or blemishes to the margins.
As a printmaker, it is important to get a nice solid print in black ink to show the master copy of the block that demonstrates good technique before making experimental choices.
Title: "Shell Senses"
Sometimes this takes lots of copies to get it just right...
STEP 6:
With their master print completed, students moved on to the creating their own artistic interpretations of their designs using multiple colors, ghosting faded prints, and printing multiple layers on different paper types.
Title: "Sardines"
Below: This 9th Grade student rolled a mixture of inks with the brayer to create a rainbow on her paper prior to printing another layer of white and pink copies the following day.
This was exciting for me to see my students actively engaged and collaborating in the studio environment as artists. Each person worked through the design thinking process to make creative choices on the final outcome of their prints and take risks with the resources available to them.
Title: "Into the Ocean"
Below: This 9th Grade student mixed together a new color of ink and layered faded prints over a couple class periods for this desired effect.
Title: "Entrapment"
Below: This 9th Grade student experimented with pulling the paper out from under the block after pressing it down for a repeating pattern.
Left to Right titled: "Shells," "Kitchen Tiles," and "Rainbow Mayhem"
Below: These students used their master block as a tool to abstract their artworks with multiple copies and colors.
Title: "Seafoam"
Below: Students collaborated together at their station to create a light green for their artworks with multiple prints.
CONCLUSION:
As students gathered all of their copies, they selected which three final pieces they would photograph and submit to their Artsonia portfolio with written artist statements.
Title: "Shell Maze" by 10th Grade Student
Artist Statement: I was inspired to create a design that reminded me of the movie “Maze Runner.” It inspired me to make the zigzags and make the structure rigid and complex but simple at the same time. I had the most fun carving the shells out and adding detail to the print.
Title: "Blue Shells" by 10th Grade Student
Artist Statement: My artwork has different colors of blue used to create the shells and the bubbles. I carved around the bubbles so it popped out more. I used blue and white mixed together to create an ombré. My favorite part is the way the dark blue blends into a super light blue.
Title: "Auger Shells" by 12th Grade Student
Artist Statement: In my artwork, I rotated my auger shell throughout my drawing of all eight shells, making sure to capture every angle of it through my print. I kept lines in the shells to add a more complex design and I really like how it turned out.
A selection of the work created by the Art I students is currently exhibited on display in the art gallery in New Buffalo High School!
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