Produced in conjunction with Matisse as Printmaker: Works from the Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation, an exhibition organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation.

The following activities are designed for teachers who would like to introduce basic concepts about printmaking to their students. They can also be used at home by parents and their children.

Understanding Relief Printing

Materials: foam-core cut into shapes, large sheets of cardboard or foam-core, glue, X-Acto knife (for the adult’s use), small paint roller or soft rubber brayer, water-based printmaking ink or thick paint (you may add flour to tempera paint to thicken it and make it stickier like ink), paper

Procedure:

1. Have students draw large, simple shapes on a sheet of paper. Older students may draw smaller shapes directly on foam-core or cardboard.

2. Have students cut out the shapes. (With elementary-aged and younger students, teachers should cut the shapes for this activity. Place the students’ drawings over sheets of foam-core and then cut out pieces of foam-core in these abstract shapes or prepare some shapes ahead of time for students to choose from.)

3. Have students create a printing block by arranging and gluing the cutout shapes onto a piece of cardboard or foam-core.

4. Instruct students on how to use the roller or brayer. Have them use the roller to apply ink to the raised pieces of foam-core.

5. Have students press a sheet of paper onto the inked surfaces and rub it with the palm of their hand to transfer the entire print.

6. Explain how the final effect is similar to a woodcut but how the process of carving an actual woodblock involves cutting away the areas around the main design and, in some cases, also carving into areas within the shapes. Students may choose to paint or draw more detail on top of their print.

 

Styrofoam Relief Prints 

Materials: water-based printmaking ink or thick paint, Styrofoam trays or plates, scissors, pencils, paper, soft rubber brayers or small paint rollers

Procedure:

1. Have students cut the edges off of the Styrofoam trays so that they have a flat surface to work on.
2. Have them draw an image by pressing into the tray with a pencil. (Remind students that the printed image will appear in reverse.)
3. Instruct students to roll out ink in the tray until the brayer is evenly covered and then roll the inked brayer over the Styrofoam until it’s thoroughly coated.
4. Ask students to place the paper on top of the Styrofoam and then press it lightly with the palm of their hand or the back of a wooden spoon.
5. Repeat until they have the desired number of prints for an edition.

 

The Intaglio Process

Materials: Plexiglas, etching needles, paper, small paint rollers or soft rubber brayers, wooden spoons, water-based printmaking ink or thick paint, spray bottles

Procedure:

1. Ask students to make a drawing.

2. Have them place a sheet of Plexiglas on top of the drawing.

3. Instruct students to use an etching needle to carefully trace the drawing on the surface of the Plexiglas.

4. Have them use brayers to roll water-based paint onto the Plexiglas surface and then gently wipe the surface with a paper towel.

5. Ask students to evenly dampen a sheet of paper with a spray bottle and then use a wooden spoon to press the paper on top of the Plexiglas to print the drawing.

 

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