Relief Printmaking

For this project, students will learn basic printmaking skills using linoleum or a rubber EZ cut. Once their carving is completed, students will create enough prints for everyone in the class. Each student will then take their collection of linocuts and create a book of prints.

Part One: Planning

  1. Decide as a class on a theme for your printmaking project. Past ideas have been: Monsters, Springtime, Mythological Creatures, Super Heros, Self, Things that Come in Pairs (salt/pepper), Journey, Facades, Digital Dreams, Inside/Outside, Looking Through, People, Old and New, Here and Now.
  2. Create 3 thumbnail sketches that are 3x4 inches. Use the templates on the back of this paper to trace.
  3. Develop one of those sketches into something that you can print in relief.

-Think about positive and negative space, what parts you want printed in ink and what parts you want to be the white of the paper. Make notes.

-Remember that detail is tricky with the cutting tools. ..try to simplify your idea.

  1. Copy the drawing directly onto your linoleum and trace out the parts you want inked with sharpie.
  2. Use the cutting tools to cut out your negative space.

Part Two: Printing

  1. When finished carving, ink your linoleum block using a brayer and ink on a piece of plexi glass.
  1. Carefully place paper on top of linoleum and rub paper with wooden spoon.
  1. Slowly peel paper away and admire your work!
  1. Repeat Part Two: Steps 1-4 until you have enough copies for everyone in class. Experiment with ink colors and paper colors!

Part Three: Book Assembly

  1. Collect one copy of every monster print in class. Determine what order you want the prints to appear in your book.
  1. Follow instructions (on back page) on how to make your book.
  1. Once your book is assembled, glue down one print on each page of your book.
  1. Create a cover to your book with title.

BINDING YOUR BOOK

  1. Gather your supplies
  2. Two pieces of mat board
  3. 6 pieces of brown paper
  4. Needle and embroidery floss
  5. Fabric or paint
  1. Fold each piece of paper in half and crease, then re-open
  1. Use rubber cement to attach everyone’s monster prints onto five of your pages
  2. There should be two on the front and two on the back of every page
  3. If you want, write the title of each piece below the print!
  1. Gather your six pages together bind them using the guide on the white board
  1. Decorate your front and back cover as you see fit
  2. Can wrap with paper or fabric
  3. Can paint or draw
  1. Rubber cement the first and last pages of your book onto the front back cover
  1. Add any final details you wish!