Relief Printmaking

Relief prints are made by cutting away the surface of a printing block made of wood, linoleum, or some other workable surface. The image that remains raised on the surface is what prints. Multiple plates can be used for different colors. These images are examples of linocut prints. Click on images to enlarge them.

Lesson Objectives:

Students will
  • learn to identify visual conventions of various forms of printmaking
  • learn about the basic techniques used in relief printing, intaglio, lithography, and screenprinting.
  • create a design that works well with the characteristics of lino-cut processes
  • experiment with carving tools and techniques in preparing the printing plate
  • create an edition of at least three identical prints and learn to sign them properly.

Resources

Take a minute to learn about the different techniques most often used in printmaking.  Click here for examples and explanations. For this project, we will be using lino-cut, a relief process.  Click on this link for a description of the steps you will follow in making your print.

Check here for how to sign a print.

YouTube Video - Lino Cut Self Portrait

YouTube Video - Blue Jay, multi color lino print

YouTube Video - Reduction Printing

Caring for Works of Art On Paper 

The History of Printmaking

What is a monoprint?

A monoprint is a "one of a kind" print. Even though the artist may use the same plate or printing block to create multiple images, each is different in some way by design. Maybe the ink colors are different. Maybe the artist has added something else to it, for example painted in details or added color pencil to the surface of the print.

 

How are you doing on your current sketchbook assignment?

How are you coming on your museum or gallery critique? Remember, the last day to turn it in is May 19, by 3:45.

 
"Florentine" by Henri Matisse


"Nostalgic Cat" by Luis Ynguanzo


"Music Night" by Twan de Vos


"Found Under the Sun" by Twan de Vos


"Jonah's Whale" by Edward Bawden


"Sincerity" by Luis Cabrera

Fine Art Prints

The definition of printmaking according to the Encyclopedia Britannica: " ...broadly, the production of images normally on paper and exceptionally on fabric, parchment, plastic or other support by various processes of multiplication; more narrowly, the making and printing of graphic works by hand or under the supervision of the artist.

Multiple Originals: A fine art print is a "multiple original." That is to say, usually within the confines of a limited edition, the artist conceives and executes his work using one or more of the serial techniques: etching, woodcut, silk screen, lino-cut, etc. Most artists feel that the technique itself adds a new dimension to an original work of art, transforming a mere drawing into something special through one or another of the processes of serial reproduction.
Assignment and Rubric:
  1. Study and discuss examples of prints made by a variety of processes presented in class.
  2. Choose between a one-color or two-color relief printing process.
  3. Design a composition that works well for process chosen. Guidelines will be discussed in class. If you want to see some student examples for ideas, look at this link from last year. Student Gallery
  4. Make a detailed scale drawing of design and transfer to plate.
  5. Observe demonstration of tool and techniques presented in class.
  6. Use a variety of tools to carve the plate. Remember...you are carving away what you do not want to print. What you leave is what prints.
  7. Print enough copies of your plate to end up with a minimum of three perfectly identical prints. Save all your artists's proofs until you turn in the project.
  8. Select best prints, trim borders as directed in class, and sign according to fine art print conventions.
  9. If time allows, take one of your spare artist's proofs and turn it into a monoprint by embellishing it with paint, color pencil, pastels, etc.

"Cubes in Color on Color" by Sol LeWitt