2. Some sort of assemblage - the problem is that you have to have a wide array of materials.
3. Groovy painted jewelry/keepsake/nifty things boxes. A ton of acrylic craft paints, some brushes, and one or two of those cheap plain wood boxes and you have an afternoon of awesome.
4. Do you have a sewing machine? Teach them how to sew a simple elastic waist skirt. It means a trip to the fabric store but you don't even need a pattern. The 5-year-old can consult on their own skirt while an adult or one of the 10-year-olds sews the seams and whatnots.
5. Altered board books. Again with the loads of paints. Take a few old board books (that way they don't have as many pages and the pages are good and sturdy, too), some paint, some fun papers, and either a poem or story written by the arteest. Again, the 5-year-old could play with painting a book of their own but it might be more of a picture book.
And I forgot to say but thank you for all your art stuff that you post on your blog- it makes me happy to see what you've made recently, from the shrine necklaces to that made of win table (I've always wanted to make a 'trapped items' table, and the buttons looked GREAT!) Thank you for sharing them; you're an inspiration dahling. As always. XD
I would wholeheartedly endorse lino prints--the Speedball blocks are soft and easy to carve--but the materials (blocks, inks, handles/gouges) can get costly, especially if you're buying for several kids. Plus the gouges are sharp.
The art museum here did a printmaking session once using styrofoam meat trays (kind of flat) as the blocks and pencils (or something similar) as the gouge. It actually worked well, and the attendees--all adults--really got into it.
I've never done lino prints either, is kind of why I'm intrigued-- I see your work and I'm always curious about it.
Dumb question: Could they feasibly draw a simple image, then use that as their template for carving instead of a picture?
And are there any special tips or tricks that you know-- things to avoid, or things to do to get a better result?
*huggles* Thanks-- I've missed talking with you, but I've been reading your blog religiously; it makes me happy to see all the art adventures you're always up to. :)
Sure, they could draw their own images. Most block printmakers do that, actually, and don't base them off photographs. (And even when I trace lines from photos, I'll change or "repair" things.) If you decide to use the soft Speedball blocks, the kids could draw right on the rubber.
Things to keep in mind: --If you're doing letters or numbers on the block, they have to be in reverse for them to print correctly. If the kids encounter any trouble with that, have them write/draw out what they want on tracing paper, flip it over on the block, and scribble over the lines on the back--everything will show up on the block in reverse. --The consistency of the ink you put on the block is key. If you roll it on too thick, it'll smudge or fill in the carved lines. If it's too thin, you'll get a faint print (which I kinda like sometimes). --Also, if you're using Speedball inks, shake and knead the tubes a bit before you use them. The pigments sometimes separate from the water base when they've been sitting a while.
What if they did lino print block techniques, but instead of using regular ink they used cloth paint and made T-shirts with their foam-block print? they could do small blocks and do it warhol-style, or a bigger single image..
And how do you do multiple colors to get a cool result, do youapply the ink directly to parts of the block or carve multiple blocks using the same source image but with different parts of it removed, or...? Any technique tips would be great so I don't tell the kids the wrong thing. (I'm going to experiment first this weekend LOL)
Sorry if they are dumb questions but it'll be MY first lino/block printing experience too, and, well-- I'm lucky enough to know an EXPERT. ;)
I vaguely recall in elementary school doing something of a watered-down Batik sort of method... We made... Well scraps of fabric, but I'm sure you could turn 'em into flags or something
( ... )
I'm liking the lino print option as well as the button people (which truly has too much potential for words...think of a button world!), but if you're still looking for options, I'd like to expand on your sculpture idea and throw out origami for consideration
( ... )
Comments 10
2. Some sort of assemblage - the problem is that you have to have a wide array of materials.
3. Groovy painted jewelry/keepsake/nifty things boxes. A ton of acrylic craft paints, some brushes, and one or two of those cheap plain wood boxes and you have an afternoon of awesome.
4. Do you have a sewing machine? Teach them how to sew a simple elastic waist skirt. It means a trip to the fabric store but you don't even need a pattern. The 5-year-old can consult on their own skirt while an adult or one of the 10-year-olds sews the seams and whatnots.
5. Altered board books. Again with the loads of paints. Take a few old board books (that way they don't have as many pages and the pages are good and sturdy, too), some paint, some fun papers, and either a poem or story written by the arteest. Again, the 5-year-old could play with painting a book of their own but it might be more of a picture book.
How's that for starters?
Reply
I'm not sure what you mean by button people-- but the boxes sound like win, and the board books too...
More! MOre! Gimmee more! ;)
Reply
Reply
The art museum here did a printmaking session once using styrofoam meat trays (kind of flat) as the blocks and pencils (or something similar) as the gouge. It actually worked well, and the attendees--all adults--really got into it.
I like the button people/flowers idea!
Reply
I've never done lino prints either, is kind of why I'm intrigued-- I see your work and I'm always curious about it.
Dumb question: Could they feasibly draw a simple image, then use that as their template for carving instead of a picture?
And are there any special tips or tricks that you know-- things to avoid, or things to do to get a better result?
*huggles* Thanks-- I've missed talking with you, but I've been reading your blog religiously; it makes me happy to see all the art adventures you're always up to. :)
Reply
Things to keep in mind:
--If you're doing letters or numbers on the block, they have to be in reverse for them to print correctly. If the kids encounter any trouble with that, have them write/draw out what they want on tracing paper, flip it over on the block, and scribble over the lines on the back--everything will show up on the block in reverse.
--The consistency of the ink you put on the block is key. If you roll it on too thick, it'll smudge or fill in the carved lines. If it's too thin, you'll get a faint print (which I kinda like sometimes).
--Also, if you're using Speedball inks, shake and knead the tubes a bit before you use them. The pigments sometimes separate from the water base when they've been sitting a while.
Reply
What if they did lino print block techniques, but instead of using regular ink they used cloth paint and made T-shirts with their foam-block print? they could do small blocks and do it warhol-style, or a bigger single image..
And how do you do multiple colors to get a cool result, do youapply the ink directly to parts of the block or carve multiple blocks using the same source image but with different parts of it removed, or...? Any technique tips would be great so I don't tell the kids the wrong thing. (I'm going to experiment first this weekend LOL)
Sorry if they are dumb questions but it'll be MY first lino/block printing experience too, and, well-- I'm lucky enough to know an EXPERT. ;)
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment