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Great Lakes Collagraph Fish

The  students  will  learn  about  the  open  printmaking  process  called  collagraphy,  and  the  different  techniques  that  can  be  incorporated  into  building  a  printing  plate.  They  will  learn  about  what  type  of  fish  live  in  Michigan’s  Great  Lakes,  and  use  one  of  these  fish  as  an  example  to  make  a  collagraph  print.  The  students  will  learn  how  to  paint  their  plate  using  acrylic  paint  and  experiment  with  layering  colors  and  black  paint.  They  will  be  required  to  make  at  least  two  successful  prints.    

 

Learning Statement

Alyssa  Bernardi    Mixed  Media    High  school  (15-­‐18  yrs)    Two,  2-­‐hour  periods    

Materials

• 20  x  15  heavy  duty  mat  board  

• Minwax  Polycrylic  • Acrylic  paint  • Acrylic  medium  

extender  • Elmer’s  glue  • Scrap  cardboard  • Variety  of  textured  

materials  • Scissors  • Pencil  • Paint  brushes  • X-­‐acto  knife  • Sponges  • 18  x  24  drawing  or  

watercolor  paper  (at  least  3  sheets)  

• 28  x  22  black  paper  

One  per  student  unless  otherwise  noted  

Photos:  Alyssa  Bernardi,  2015  

2 Great Lakes Collagraph fish

Context-Background Information Collagraphy:  A  very  open  printmaking  process  where  materials  are  applied  to  a  rigid  substrate  (mat  board  or  wood).  The  plate  is  usually  highly  textured.  Materials  can  be  layered  on  it,  and  the  plate  can  also  be  cut  into.  Finally,  the  plate  can  be  inked  or  painted.  A  printing  press  can  be  used,  but  does  not  have  to  be,  in  order  to  press  the  inked  image  onto  the  paper.  http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collagraphy,  Retrieved  March  25,  2015  

What  is  Polycrylic  and  what  does  it  do?  By  applying  two  coats  of  Polycrylic  over  a  finished  plate,  it  acts  like  a  sealant,  making  the  plate  waterproof.  This  protects  the  plate  so  one  can  use  it  multiple  times  to  make  multiple  prints  and  wash  the  ink/paint  off  in  between  prints.  

 

State Benchmarks And Standards CS1:1  Apply  materials,  techniques,  media  technology,  and  processes  with  sufficient  skill,  confidence,  and  sensitivity  that  personal  intentions  are  carried  out  in  artworks.  

CS2:2  Create  artworks  that  use  organizational  principles  and  functions  to  solve  specific  visual  arts  problems.    

CS2:5  Demonstrate  an  improved  ability  to  integrate  structures,  characteristics  and  principles  to  accomplish  commercial,  personal,  communal,  or  other  purposes  of  art.  

Process 1. The  teacher  will  introduce  project  with  

PowerPoint  and  demonstrate  how  to  build  a  collagraph  plate.  

2. The  students  will  sketch  their  plate  designs  based  on  a  Great  Lakes  fish  of  their  choice.  

3. The  students  will  build  their  printing  plate  on  mat  board  using  cardboard  and  other  textured  materials.  

4. The  students  will  coat  their  entire  finished  plate  with  2  coats  of  Polycrylic.  

5. The  teacher  will  demonstrate  how  to  print  a  plate.  

6. The  students  will  print  their  plate  multiple  times  using  acrylic  paint  and  acrylic  medium.  

7. The  students  will  print  their  plate  again  using  just  a  layer  of  black  acrylic  paint  or  ink  over  top  of  the  colored  prints.  

8. The  students  will  mount  their  most  successful  print  onto  black  paper  with  rubber  cement.  

Evaluation Did  the  student  create  their  own  unique  plate  design  using  a  Great  Lakes  fish  of  their  choice?  

Did  the  student  use  various  techniques  to  create  interesting  texture?  

Did  the  student  make  at  least  two  successful  prints?  

Did  the  student  use  color  and  black  paint  layers  effectively?  

Did  the  student  mount  his/her  prints  on  black  poster  board?  

Did  the  student  use  materials  safely  and  responsibly?  

 

Photo:  Alyssa  Bernardi,  2014