📖

Creating the Print Block

Printmaking: Relief Printing

Day 39of 180
Week 8of 36
45Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand how to transfer a design to a printing block

2

Carefully carve or incise a design, considering positive and negative space

3

Practice patience and intentionality in artistic creation

📖 Scripture Connection

Exodus 35:31-32

“He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze,”

— Exodus 35:31-32 (WEB)

This verse highlights God's gift of creative skill and artistry, encouraging students to see their artistic abilities as a divine blessing

📦 Materials Needed

  • Styrofoam printing block
  • Pencil
  • Tracing paper
  • Soft surface for carving
  • Optional: Linoleum carving tools (with parent supervision)
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Review yesterday's design planning and discuss how artists carefully plan before creating

💭 Review Question: What did you learn about designing your print yesterday?
2Teaching (10 min)

BibleMouse Art Lesson: Transferring and Preparing Your Print Block

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Carefully trace your design onto tracing paper
  • Flip the tracing paper over and transfer to the styrofoam block
  • Understand that carved areas will NOT print - only raised areas will show ink
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • How is creating a print block like telling a story?
  • What makes a design interesting to look at?
3Activity: Creating Your Print Block (20 min)
hands-on

Students will transfer their carefully planned design to the printing block and begin carefully carving or incising the design

📝 Instructions:
  1. Place tracing paper design face-down on styrofoam block
  2. Gently trace over design to transfer
  3. Use pencil to go over transferred lines
  4. Begin carefully removing areas that should not print
  5. Work slowly and deliberately
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use less detailed design with broader shapes

Challenge: Add more intricate details and textures to print block

4Closing (10 min)

Clean up workspace and discuss progress

📝 Review Questions:
  • What was challenging about transferring your design?
  • How does your design look different from your original sketch?

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll begin printing our blocks and creating an edition of prints!

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Relief printing requires careful planning and patience

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Supervise closely when using any carving tools
  • Encourage careful, intentional work
  • Praise effort over perfection
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children may get frustrated with the precision required

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Careful tracing, thoughtful design transfer, careful carving

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a print block inspired by a favorite Bible story
  • Explore different textures in the print block design

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 40 →Back to Art