Full of Second Chances: Gelatin-plate Printing
Essential Questions: How can every day materials be used as an art supply?
How do two primary colors mix to create a new color?
Why are ratios important as we mix colors?
Why does the leaf not line up when placed (ink side down) on the final print?
Enduring Understandings: Printmaking is a technique that can be experienced with everyday materials.
Primary colors mix to make secondary colors.
The ratio of color:color changes the tint/shade of color mixed.
In printmaking, there is a reverse-effect concept to consider.
Stories (Hook): I begin this lesson by showing students the gelatin plate. I walk around the table letting each student touch the plate - open hand to prevent tears and holes. Each student shares what the plate feels like: squishy, sticky, cold, soft, bouncy. We discus when a food item becomes a studio material it is no longer considered a food item. We discus what we use to make art - how everyday, inexpensive items can be used to create beautiful art.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Last Days
by Mary Oliver
Things are
changing; things are starting to
spin, snap, fly off into
the blue sleeve of the long
afternoon. Oh and ooh
come whistling out of the perished mouth
of the grass, as things
turn soft, boil back
into substance and hue. As everything,
forgetting its own enchantment, whispers:
I too love oblivion why not it is full
of second chances. Now,
hiss the bright curls of the leaves, Now!
booms the muscle of the wind.
How do two primary colors mix to create a new color?
Why are ratios important as we mix colors?
Why does the leaf not line up when placed (ink side down) on the final print?
Enduring Understandings: Printmaking is a technique that can be experienced with everyday materials.
Primary colors mix to make secondary colors.
The ratio of color:color changes the tint/shade of color mixed.
In printmaking, there is a reverse-effect concept to consider.
Stories (Hook): I begin this lesson by showing students the gelatin plate. I walk around the table letting each student touch the plate - open hand to prevent tears and holes. Each student shares what the plate feels like: squishy, sticky, cold, soft, bouncy. We discus when a food item becomes a studio material it is no longer considered a food item. We discus what we use to make art - how everyday, inexpensive items can be used to create beautiful art.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Last Days
by Mary Oliver
Things are
changing; things are starting to
spin, snap, fly off into
the blue sleeve of the long
afternoon. Oh and ooh
come whistling out of the perished mouth
of the grass, as things
turn soft, boil back
into substance and hue. As everything,
forgetting its own enchantment, whispers:
I too love oblivion why not it is full
of second chances. Now,
hiss the bright curls of the leaves, Now!
booms the muscle of the wind.
Materials:
gelatin plates brayer inking trays 9 x 12 paper (2) leaves (highly textured are best) inks: red, yellow, blue |
Vocabulary:
gelatin plate print printmaking ghost print brayer ink inking tray reverse-effect transfer silhouette primary colors pull the print secondary colors R + Y = O Y + B = G B + R = P R + B + Y = Br |
Process:
~Ink the plate with one primary color,
add a second primary color to create the secondary color.
~Place leaf on inked plate - texture side down.
~Place paper on top of leaf/inked plate.
~Transfer the print by gently rubbing entire plate.
~Pull the print by lifting the paper off the plate.
~Place inky leaf on silhouetted space,
rub back of leaf to transfer inky details to print.
~Place second sheet of paper on gelatin plate to pull the ghost print.
Resources:
Gelatin plate recipe:
2:1 - dissolve 2 envelopes of unflavored gelatin in 1 cup of boiling water.
Each 4x6" styrofoam tray takes aprox. 11/2 cups of mixture to fill.
I usually mix at least 6 cups to make 4 gelatin plates.
Using a piece of card stock, smooth over the top of plate to remove air bubbles.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Learning Targets:
Students will demonstrate art making from everyday materials.
Students will mix secondary colors from primary colors.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of ratio in their color mixing.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of reverse-effect in printmaking.
Reflections:
I use Gelatin-plate printing as an opening project for my grade 3 students. Because I set up only one printmaking station, it gives me the opportunity to work with one or two students at a time. This helps me get to know them as we work together making prints. Some of the challenges with this project are the time it takes to work in small groups and the physical conditions in the school in the early months. When it is humid (if you do not have air conditioning) the gelatin plate does not react the same as when it is relatively dry. Results may be less sharp prints with more of a water color effect. But all in all, this project is one filled with many a-ha moments for the students. And the results are simply exquisite!
Gallery:
~Ink the plate with one primary color,
add a second primary color to create the secondary color.
~Place leaf on inked plate - texture side down.
~Place paper on top of leaf/inked plate.
~Transfer the print by gently rubbing entire plate.
~Pull the print by lifting the paper off the plate.
~Place inky leaf on silhouetted space,
rub back of leaf to transfer inky details to print.
~Place second sheet of paper on gelatin plate to pull the ghost print.
Resources:
Gelatin plate recipe:
2:1 - dissolve 2 envelopes of unflavored gelatin in 1 cup of boiling water.
Each 4x6" styrofoam tray takes aprox. 11/2 cups of mixture to fill.
I usually mix at least 6 cups to make 4 gelatin plates.
Using a piece of card stock, smooth over the top of plate to remove air bubbles.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Learning Targets:
Students will demonstrate art making from everyday materials.
Students will mix secondary colors from primary colors.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of ratio in their color mixing.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of reverse-effect in printmaking.
Reflections:
I use Gelatin-plate printing as an opening project for my grade 3 students. Because I set up only one printmaking station, it gives me the opportunity to work with one or two students at a time. This helps me get to know them as we work together making prints. Some of the challenges with this project are the time it takes to work in small groups and the physical conditions in the school in the early months. When it is humid (if you do not have air conditioning) the gelatin plate does not react the same as when it is relatively dry. Results may be less sharp prints with more of a water color effect. But all in all, this project is one filled with many a-ha moments for the students. And the results are simply exquisite!
Gallery: