Printmaking can be a tedious, repetitive process. Especially when the art materials are of a lower quality. I want to put better quality inks into the hands of my students, as well as a printing press that will make the process go a little faster than hand pressing with wooden spoons.
My students are a creative, sweet, wild bunch.
They are diverse in their cultures and backgrounds, and our Title I school is a caring, safe space for many of these kids. As one of the elective teachers, I get almost every 7th grade student in the school at one point during the year, and 8th grade students who choose to do art have me for a semester. My goal as an art teacher is to expose the students to as many different types of media as I can in the limited amount of time that I have them. I try to help the students find the way that they feel most comfortable making art.
My Project
I like to think of making block prints as a mixture between drawing and sculpting. Although the prints are a 2D product, the students have to think in a more 3D process, carving out areas and leaving the relief areas. Various textures can be created by what they carve out and what they leave. They will be learning about positive and negative space, and since I'd like to do a reduction print (printing multiple layers from the same block), they will need to think through the process all the way through before ever making their first cut. We have the linoleum blocks and cutting tools. I have asked for ink that can print on paper or fabric and a rolling printing press. Ink is expensive and can run out fast. The printing press is the best way to get quality prints in a quick manner...much better than hand rubbing the back of the paper with a wooden spoon for 15 minutes.
I didn't use my linoleum blocks last year because I had run out of ink and needed to spend my budget elsewhere.
This project will allow the students to engage in a truly hands-on art technique that is quite prevalent in the art world today. The printing press will help the students to use a tool that professionals use, and hopefully make them feel like a professional while they use it.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Stika and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.