Expert: Ginger Lordy - 1/1/2006

Question
I need some good printmaking projects for children between the ages of 6-12.  Any good ideas?

Answer
Hi Katie,

There are lots of projects that incorporate different types of printmaking.  I would suggest you get some books from the library for examples because that might show them a variety of types of printmaking and give the kids some ideas too.

You could start by talking about printing - fingerprints, handprints, footprints - make a picture using prints from  parts of the body.

Nature prints - leaves, anything that can be painted and pressed makes nice prints, or rubbings (like bark, rocks or sandpaper) is another form of making a print -  layering these with different colors could make an interesting picture.

Finding things to stamp with, this can also be stuff brought in by your artists - what can they find at home to print with?  I use bottle tops, lids, foil balled up to make interesting designs, plastic bags bunched up with rubberbands, matchbox cars, any little plastic toys, even the curvy side of lasagna works.

Some other interesting ways to make multiple prints are:

Gluing yarn (I find thicker easier to glue, but thinner gives more detail) to a piece of cardboard in a design - I have done these with a group for greeting cards - Let the yarn dry, then apply paint to the yarn - one or multiple colors will work - and print.  

Another multiple print is to use styrofoam trays - like a meat tray but clean - (this is a relief print, similar to wood block prints) and have the kids draw a design into the tray, you can use sharp pencils or toothpicks but be careful not to pierce through the tray  - after the "plate" is complete you can ink the tray with paint - a roller is useful for this but a light coating of paint will work too - and print on paper - if there is to much paint or you want to switch colors just wipe off or rinse under water.  You can reuse the trays many times.

One of my favorites is using squares of plexiglass (if you do not have these, you can use any surface that will not soak up the paint, I have seen it done with real glass but use plexiglass for safety)  Let the artist paint a design on the glass and then place paper over it to make a print - * it will come out in reverse so words and numbers need to be done backwards.  If the children want to make another of the same print - a light one might be made without adding paint or they can just add more paint over the design.

And if you don't mind the smell - Get a fresh fish (head and all) and let the children take turns painting it and pressing paper into the fish.  Fish with bigger scales seems to work better.  These can be very beautiful prints and I recommend mixing a few colors on the fish.  You will need to wash the fish between printings to get good details of the scales.

Hope these ideas help,  Good Luck,

Ginger