I found yet another craft book from the 70's that totally inspires and is great fodder for summer projects. (The 1970's is great decade for craft books.)
This book, SIMPLE PRINTMAKING WITH CHILDREN, demonstrates several types of printmaking that covers very simple techniques to pretty-darn-complex. I suggested we dive right into the BACK of the book and test our crafting chops on linoleum block printing.
With Lino-block printing, getting to an end result requires some planning and LOTS of rule following! Not surprisingly, the process itself had to be steeped in safety precautions and lessons on how to use specific tools: lino block, gouging tools, bench hook.
Children have to grasp the concept of cutting away parts of the block that they do not want printed. They also have to remember that letters and words would have to be carved backwards in order to print forwards. Now to further complicate matters, the method demands a good amount of hand coordination and muscle control. So all in all, this project requires more problem solving skills that most other art projects - and that's not such a bad thing!
Naturally, mistakes were made! One kid I know does not appreciate mistakes. So I shouldn't have been the least bit surprised that a certain six year old would throw a gouging tool across the room in a fit of frustration!
This is K as she starts:
A short while later, she is getting the hang of it and using excellent technique!
Miss A, however, struggled a bit more. Her little hands just didn't have enough strength to scrape the surface of the block.
But then, she discovered quite on her own that she could use her head as leverage. Look at how she is using the force of her cute and chubby little cheeks to lean into her arms and add some extra leverage to her gouging tool. Resourceful and downright adorable!
Look what she's accomplished all by herself! (Don't you love 5-legged elephants?)
Much more to show you! These girls are completely smitten with this medium. They are in the midst of tackling more detailed designs.
Hope you give it a try! The ISBN for this book is: 0442019866.
