Fascination with features.

Printmaking, in the least amount of steps, is a two-part process: the design and construction of the block, and the process of printing with the block. Additional excitement may be added to this process if a third step is taken, that of designing a related collage on which to print.

Before beginning this project, students studied the relief printmaking. process. They examined the various objects that may be used to create interesting prints, including simple gadgets and vegetables. Once the students understood the process, I had them design their own printing plates tools, first on paper, then with string and a piece of cardboard.

We decided on the human face as the theme for this series of prints. The human face is a familiar subject to students, and one that may be thought of in terms of simple shapes. Before putting pencil to paper, students studied the proportions of the human face and head. Students modeled for the class, frowning or smiling while the class tried to depict their expressions in correct proportions. As a result of this practice, the process of creating the relief plates with string lines went quickly and resulted in more expressive features.

Because of its linear qualities, a string relief print has an advantage when combined with different elements, such as shapes in a collage. String can be curved, twisted and repeated in a line to add repetition, texture or pattern to the background of shapes on the collage. As in most pieces of good design, a variety of sizes of shapes tends to increase interest in the unity of the total artwork. Repetition of color in the collage shapes can also increase the design quality.

In selecting the colors of ink to use, let the students experiment with printing light inks (orange, white or yellow) on darker papers, and dark inks (brown, black, green or purple) on lighter papers. After experiencing the freedom to choose colors for the collage, the students will have the concept of dark upon light, and light upon dark to support the contrast which may be needed for the string lines to show adequately over the collage shapes.

A second collage design may be more successful than the first. The first attempt can be strongly influenced by a desire to simply outline shapes for the eyes, nose and mouth. After a critique of this idea, students begin to discover that the lines for the eyes can indicate eyelids, pupils or eyeglasses.

Noses and ears proved to be more difficult to create than eyes and hair in terms of shapes. Often, a linear nose would be very expressive on the string relief plate, but would not be as effective as a collage shape. More analysis of the mouth and nose could have improved the project's outcome.

Soft, absorbent types of paper give better results. In most collage work the greater the variety of paper used, the more intriguing the outcome. Students might discover that more pressure is required on the relief plate while printing, and that more ink on the plate will cause a clearer impression over the collage.

Experimentation with this process can lead to other creative uses of printing combinations and can offer the young printmaker a new and exciting means to make a visual statement.