storyboards

plasticine illustrations

the character in fabric

printing

sensory looking

the character

the suitcase

from line to shape

shape to block

garry oaks

the print

I did the inking 4-5 people at a time. We shared the process of ink transfer - from the slab to the brayer; to the block; to the paper. Our first prints - our proofs - helped us deterine if we needed to alter the block.
Many of the blocks needed fine tuning - trimming edges or regluing - before coming back for another print. We used water soluble block ink and a retarder that slowed the drying time.

Each participant has two or three prints each. Because these blocks are small and can be used as stamps, it would be interesting to put them all together in one large class print.

printmaking: the block

Printmaking was undertaken in conjunction with the study of the Canadian Arctic and the Inuit. We examined Inuit artifacts from a museo-kit and researched arctic animals and stories. In the sketchbooks we recorded our explorations and began to work out a design for our relief print. Over the two week period, each class also participated in a school program at the Glenbow Museum.

I asked for several drawings of arctic animals. I also encouraged other subjects that reflected their learning about the north. One drawing was chosen and reworked as a design using simple shapes within a traced rectangle. It was then redrawn directly on foam rubber and cut out.


First the general shape was cut out. Then other parts were cut away to produce positive and negative shapes in the design. The pieces were puzzled back together, glued onto a cardboard cereal box and tightly trimmed.

working with artifacts

In Grade 2, students study the Canadian North. We've been exploring artifacts from the Glenbow Museo Kit, "Inuit: A Living People". We discussed materials, construction and function as an introduction to the objects. Artifact handling was discussesd and each of us had an opportunity to have the object in our hands, look at it up close and imagine its purpose, feel its weight and design... Imagine the person that used it last...

Later, we drew the objects.