BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Printmaking, Texture, Emphasis

Students use a variety of textured materials to make collograph prints, and embellish them with oil pastels.

Required Time

180 Minutes

Grade Level

Grade 4 to Grade 6

Subject

Mathematics
Science
Visual Arts

Vocabulary

burnish collograph emphasis print printing plate printmaking radial balance shape texture

Materials

Crayola Washable Glue Scissors Pencils Textured Objects Tracing Paper Plastic Tray Soft Roller Tempera Paint Wooden Spoon Tag Manilla Paper Paper Oil Pastels

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Oil Pastels, 16 Count

Steps

BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Printmaking, Texture, Emphasis - Step One

Step One

Make 3 thumbnail sketches. Choose the one you like the best.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Printmaking, Texture, Emphasis - Step Two

Step Two

Trace the same size circles onto a piece of tag manilla and a piece of drawing paper. Cut out the drawing paper circle.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Printmaking, Texture, Emphasis - Step Three

Step Three

Fold the circle in half, and in half again 3 or 4 times.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Printmaking, Texture, Emphasis - Step Four

Step Four

Open the paper and tape it on top of the tag manilla circle. Make a mark around the circumference of the circle at each fold.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Printmaking, Texture, Emphasis - Step Five

Step Five

Cut out different shapes between the spaces. Try placing the shapes around the circle to see which border you prefer. Choose the one you like best and cut out the shape to use as a template. Trace it repeatedly around the outer edge of the circle using your marks as a guide for even spacing.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Printmaking, Texture, Emphasis - Step Six

Step Six

Draw your design on the tag manilla circle. Place the circle on top of another piece of tag manilla and cut out both circles at the same time. 

BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Printmaking, Texture, Emphasis - Step Seven

Step Seven

Place a piece of onionskin tracing paper on top of your design. Trace the whole thing with a soft lead pencil. Place the tracing on top of the blank circle with the drawing side FACE DOWN. Draw over the lines. 

BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Printmaking, Texture, Emphasis - Step Eight

Step Eight

Remove the tracing paper. The original shape is shape A. The reverse is shape B.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Printmaking, Texture, Emphasis - Step Nine

Step Nine

Cut out details from shape A and glue them to shape B. Add textured materials as well as tag manilla pieces. Keep adding details until you are satisfied with the effects. Make sure everything is glued down well. This is your collograph printing plate.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Printmaking, Texture, Emphasis - Step Ten

Step Ten

Place the printing plate on a page of an open magazine. Use the soft roller to mix two primary colours of tempera paint together in the plastic tray. Roll the paint over the surface of the printing plate making sure to apply an even coat.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Printmaking, Texture, Emphasis - Step Eleven

Step Eleven

Carefully lift the inked plate off the magazine page. Turn the page over to a new, clean page. Carefully place the inked plate onto the new page. Place a piece of paper on top of the inked plate and rub over the surface with your hand, then burnish it with a wooden spoon. 

BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Printmaking, Texture, Emphasis - Step Twelve

Step Twelve

Gently pull the paper away from the printing plate.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Printmaking, Texture, Emphasis - Step Thirteen

Step Thirteen

Once the prints are dry, draw over them with oil pastels to create areas of emphasis.

Learning Goals

Students will be able to:

  1. Create 4 collograph prints of a favourite bird;
  2. Use oil pastels to add emphasis and detail to the prints;
  3. Use shape and texture to create radial balance;
  4. Demonstrate technical accomplishment and creativity; and
  5. Support their ideas with evidence found in the works.

Extensions

  1. Have students further explore the effects of different combinations of found materials and textures on collograph printmaking to make large abstract compositions that they can combine in a cooperative class mural. Have them add drawn marks over the prints using oil pastels and other drawing mediums to embellish the final project.

Prepare

  1. Download the Colour and Shape posters available on this website.
    Posters
    Colour 
  2. Prior to this lesson you may want to have students explore the colour wheel using the lesson plan available on this website,
    Colour Wheel 
  3. Prior to this lesson you may want to have students explore relief printmaking using found objects using the lesson plan available on this website,
    Exploring Line
  4. You may want to gather and display books about collograph printmaking, for example, Complete Collagraph: The Art and Technique of Printmaking from Collage Plates, by Clara Romano, Collagraphs and Mixed-Media Printmaking, by Brenda Hartill and Richard Clarke, Print with Collage and Stitch: Techniques for Mixed-Media Printmaking, by Val Holmes.
  5. Prior to this lesson have students research the characteristics of birds and choose their favourite bird as a subject for further inquiry.
  6. Create a sample collograph.

Introduction

  1. Show students the print you have created. Ask them to discuss what they notice about the print and to explain how they think it was made. Talk about the shapes, textures and radial balance.
  2. Show students the collograph printing plate you used to make the prints. Discuss how it was made. Place it beside the print and use a venn diagram to compare them.
  3. Introduce the challenge.

Activities

The Challenge

  1. Create 4 collograph prints of a favourite bird.
  2. Use oil pastels to add emphasis and detail to the prints.
  3. Use shape and texture to create radial balance.
  4. Demonstrate technical accomplishment and creativity.
  5. Support your ideas with evidence found in the works.

The Process

  1. Ensure that everyone understands the challenge.
  2. Guide students through the steps outlined in this lesson plan.
  3. Demonstrate how to cut out two pieces of paper at the same time.
  4. Remind students that lines and patterns will be created by the spaces left between shapes and the differences in levels of paper and materials.
  5. Observe students as they work.
  6. Provide individual assistance and encouragement.

Sharing

  1. Once all the prints are complete ask students to share them in partners or small groups. 
    Ask them to:
    - Look closely at the prints and how they are made.
    - Share thoughts about the work.
    - Talk about how shape and texture contribute to the overall effectiveness of the image.
    - Discuss the use of drawing with oil pastels over the prints.
    - Talk about what was difficult about making the print and why.
    - Tell what was satisfying about making the print and why.
  2. Ask some students to share their ideas with the whole class.
  3. Display the prints so students can view them as a body of work throughout the next few weeks.
     

Assessment

  1. Observe students as they work – thoughtful focus, discriminating, seeking more information, elaborating, experimenting
  2. Observe students as they discuss the prints – active listening, insightful contributions, supporting ideas with evidence found in the artwork and from personal experience.
  3. Use a checklist to track progress. (Download – COLLOGRAPH_tracking.pdf)
  4. Have students use the self-assessment form to evaluate their work. (Download – COLLOGRAPH_self-assessment.pdf)

 

Downloads

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