White Line Prints by 4th Graders

This week in Summer Spree camp I had my 4th graders make a version of white line relief prints of butterfly wings (this summer's theme is "Metamorphosis") by drawing into foam boards (we used Scratch Art Scratch Foam sheets, but one could also use styrofoam sheets/plates if on a tight budget) and then printing the shapes of color in between the lines with markers. For a registration board we simply taped the sheets and paper to clipboards (as can be seen in the second photograph here.) Stay tuned - later this week we're going to turn these into parts of scuptures!

Woodcuts by Dean DiPrinzio

 These are two versions of a woodcut by Dean DiPrinzio, a student I've taught four summers during the Summer Spree Art Camp of the Community Arts Center in Wallingford, PA. He's now in 6th grade and it seems art is this kid's life. With the support of his parents, especially his dad Michael DiPrinzio who is also an artist, he's quick to tell people that he exhibits and sells his work. Here's a link to an article about one of their shows.

This summer I asked Dean if he's ever made a woodcut, and he hadn't, so brought him a 3" x 4" shina plywood block and some carving tools, and he made this great little print. I hope he frames the two versions together and exhibits them somewhere soon.

Collographs by Summer Camp Kids

 More prints from the elementary school students I taught this summer at the Community Arts Center. This time collographs.

I had the kids cut and draw into scratch-foam (they can use a pencil since the scratch foam is so soft, just about anything hard will make a permanent impression) and then glue their designs onto pieces of stiff foam core. The next day (after the glue was dry) I showed them different ways to ink up their plates. We used water-based block printing inks (super easy cleanup and non-toxic) and they tried rolling the ink on in both solid colors and gradations, and also tried making up a palette of different colored inks and painting it on (thus adding the texture of brushstrokes.)

I've done this and a variation of this project with kids many times and it is always a big hit. It is quick, easy, and a great introduction to relief printmaking.

Linocuts by Summer Camp Kids

 I've been teaching at an art-based summer camp at the Community Arts Center in Wallingford, PA. Last week I had 4th and 5th graders do 3" x 4" linocuts. These are my four favorite prints they produced.

Monkey by Jane
Giraffe by Nathan
Ship by Anthony
Fish by Dean