Radical Radial Prints

Well, in my art room, we are gearing up to start all different kinds of prints!  This first lesson is one that I have used with fifth grade, and also with my adaptive high school art kiddos.  Results are really cool, and this lesson allows for some art history in printmaking (Andy Warhol Prezi) if that is the route you want to take.  It is also a good example of radial balance in art, and balance in general.



On the first day, we start off with the introduction (and/or review) of BALANCE.  From there, I show the kids the wet on wet watercolor technique...



I like to use liquid watercolors for this lesson, because it really works well to give that "tie dye" look...





As you can see, I have the kids start from the middle, and design toward the outside.  If they cannot find the exact middle, it is not a huge deal, because they will be covering most of their painted design with a print later on in the lesson.



This first step takes the whole first period.  The nice thing is, if a student was gone the first day, it is not the end of the world if they skip this part, because they will still be getting the concept of "radial balance" the next day with the printmaking.

ON DAY 2:  I have the students design a pattern coming from one corner, and radiating outward, so that when they print, they will have a radial design, once again.  I pre-cut the squares of paper and foam to be the exact same size.  The ones seen here are 4x4" squares.



Once they are done with the drawing, they tape it onto the foam (I use Inovart printfoam OR Scratch-Art Scratch-Foam), and they push to make the design come through.  They do this step twice: once with the paper, and once without.  On the back of the foam I have the kids LABEL THE CORNER WHERE THE DESIGN STARTS, so that they know which corners to line up when printing later on to get the radial design to work out.



Next, we ink with black block printing ink and a brayer.



Then print four times!  If students finish early, I let them print again in a different way or on different colored papers if they want.  Some of them like to trade print plates and print from their neighbors, too.



Now go get your Warhol on!! :)