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Develop a Print

Use what you’ve learned about Japanese printmaking to create your own print

You’ve seen how artists like Hokusai use prints to celebrate the world around them. Now it’s your turn to design a composition using shape, carve a block, and make your own print.

Materials

sketch paper

graphite pencil

carbon paper

linoleum or other carving surface blocks

permanent marker

linoleum-cutting tools with a variety of blades

block printing inks

Plexiglas 

rubber brayers

printing paper 

barens

Step 1: Design Your Image

Sketch your design. Use shapes to simplify the composition.

What aspect of nature sparks your imagination? It might be the leaves that shade your yard, your favorite animal, or a stunning landscape. Design a sketch that illustrates your idea. Incorporate common shapes, such as spheres, squares, and triangles, to help clarify your design. Use bold outlines to emphasize the most important elements of your sketch. Remember that your sketch will be reversed when you create your final print. If you include any letters or numbers, they should appear backward in your design. 

Tip: Keep your sketch simple. Then add the details later.

Step 2: Carve Your Block

Carve your linoleum.

Place a sheet of carbon paper on your linoleum. Then place your sketch on top. Trace over your sketch using a graphite pencil. This will transfer your drawing onto the linoleum. Then use a permanent marker to trace over your drawing on the linoleum. Use the marker to emphasize the areas of your image that you’d like to appear in your print. Leave the areas you plan to cut away clean. Carve your linoleum, removing only the clean areas. Always cut away from your body and be aware of other students working nearby.

Tip: Create texture by varying the way you carve your linoleum.

Step 3: Print Your Image

Use a brayer to roll the ink onto a sheet of Plexiglas. Roll the ink onto your block evenly and then place a sheet of paper on top of the inked block. Roll a clean, dry brayer or baren over the paper. Pull the paper off your plate to reveal your print.

The student who made these prints experimented with different colors.

Select a color for your print. Use a brayer to roll the ink onto a sheet of Plexiglas, evenly coating the brayer with ink. Roll the ink onto your block and then carefully place your  printing paper on top of the inked block. Roll a clean, dry brayer or baren in all directions over the paper to make a crisp impression. Gently pull the paper off your plate and allow time for it to dry. Experiment with printing in different colors. 

The student who created the design on the left printed the image on wood.

You also might want to try printing on unusual surfaces and found materials. These could include newspapers, magazines, fabric, or wood. When you’re finished, sign, title, and number each print. 

Tip: You can use markers, colored pencils, or paint to add details to your prints once they are dry.

Prepared by: Lisa Yamaoka, South Kamloops Secondary School, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

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