Art Explorer 6: Leave a Mark!

"Printmaking with Scissors"

Printmaking is an artistic process that combines paint, objects and a surface.  Paint is applied to an object (for example, sponges or styrofoam) and then pressed onto paper or another canvas (for example, a shirt). When the object is lifted, it results in a print (Schirrmacher & Fox, p. 367).  On the other hand, printmaking does not have to involve paint, it can include clay.  A popular activity involving clay, is hand printing.  As a child, I remember making a clay hand print for my mother.  I was given a lump of clay,a tray and a popsicle stick. I was told to evenly spread the clay within the tray and then, using the popsicle stick, I was to write a message along the top and to write my name along the bottom.  On the top I wrote, "To Mom. I love you" and on the bottom, I wrote, Maria Tsirtsimpis". I do not have my original print, but the above picture is what the process resembled. The art word I have chosen this week is S P A C E.  Space is determined by the size of the canvas, whether it be paper, wood or a T-shirt (Schirrmacher & Fox). Every artist must determine how to arrange their elements within a given space.  I have chosen the word space because in the following activity, space is determined by the canvas (a T-shirt) and children must cope with representing themselves and their world within a given size.  This can be difficult and interesting as children have to decided what is important and what is not.

Activity: Print Yourself

Simple Stencils

The art activity that I have chosen to create is fairly simple and easy for all ages (simple stencils for younger children and more complex stencils for older participants). It involves a blank T-shirt (feel free to use a blank pillow or blanket instead), a variety of paint colors and stencils (out of styrofoam and sponges). Each child/person will receive a T-shirt and then have the opportunity to chose paint colors and stencils.  Some of the stencils will be of pictures and objects (a house, dog/cat, person, etc.), while others will be of letters, numbers and shapes, as well as common words, such as family and friends.  There will also be sheets or blocks of styrofoam and sponges available, so that the participants can create their own stencils.  Therefore, there will be a variety of stencils, which allows the child/person to make a full representation of their personal identity and world.

Basic hand-print T-shirt (more intricate as you use more symbols)

Step 1: Take a blank T-shirt and inside the tag write your name.
Step 2: Choose or create a variety of stencils that represent you and your world. If you chose to create a stencil, you will need to draw the concept and then using a pair of scissors cut out the stencil.
Step 3: Choose and apply paint to each stencil and apply the stencil onto the canvas. Remember to slowly lift the stencil, in order to avoid smudging the print.

Step 4: After you have finished printmaking, allow the T-shirt to dry. If you wish to print both sides of the T-shirt, start with one side and then allow it to dry. Once dry, turn it over and repeat the process for the back.
Step 5: Once dry, feel free to add other aspects onto the T-shirt (sparkles or written words etc.).
Step 6: Feel free to wear the shirt, or even frame it!!