Highlands Art Garage

Monoprinting – Trees

By

The winter months can get a little dreary so why not break out some art supplies for the kids to play with. This project is called monoprinting because each print is one of a kind. In the past I’ve used this technique to teach kids to draw all kind of things like boxes or stars or flowers. The resulting prints are unique and beautiful.

First I pick a theme and look for inspiration either on the internet or in my picture files. I think a theme helps kids focus and can make the activity a teaching tool for subjects like the phases of the moon, leaf shapes or how to draw a star.  A great book to go along with this idea is Draw me a Star by Eric Carle.

Because it’s January when I’m writing this I chose winter trees for my theme.  This project is really fun for kids and adults and you’ll be surprised and delighted with the results. I hope you give it a try.

 

 

The supplies needed are listed below. Check out the Highlands Art Garage store to find some of these items.

  • good construction paper or drawing paper to print on
  • artist’s palette paper or cardboard and freezer paper for a printing plate
  • spatula, Q-tips or artist’s palette knife to remove paint
  • tempera or acrylic paint in liquid form
  • variety of brushes including wide sponge brushes
  • dish to hold paint

 

The prints make beautiful finished work on their own but I also like to use prints in my collages.

Stamp Making – Art Lesson

By

Happy Holidays everyone. Here’s a fun project for kids and adults that doesn’t require a lot of fancy supplies and can add a personal touch to your gift giving, or thank you notes. It’s really easy to make custom stamps to use on wrapping paper, tissue paper, cards and gift tags. This is a tried and true printmaking lesson appropriate for kids because there are no carving tools used just a pencil, craft foam, scissors and foam core board or cardboard for a stamp block. I use a few other print making tools or a stamp pad.

The supplies needed are sticky back craft foam, or regular craft foam and glue, sharp scissors, cardboard or foam core board, water based ink, a brush or brayer to apply the ink and white or colored paper. Most of these items can be found in the Highlands Art Garage store.

I always look to nature for inspiration so I made a pine cone stamp but in the video I demonstrate the process with a simple drawing of a bow. Other ideas would be holly leaves and berries, stars, animals like a cat or bunny or simple shapes like circles or triangles. The details of your design are added with a pencil.

 

After I have a simple drawing, I transfer it to the foam. If you’re using sticky back foam I transfer it to the foam side. Cut out your design, peel the back and stick it to the foam core board or cardboard. Put some ink on a piece of Plexiglas or board covered with parchment paper, wax paper or foil. Roll the brayer back and forth to load it with ink then apply the ink with the brayer to the stamp. Stamp you paper or card, re- ink and repeat.

Watch the video below to see how it’s done. If you want to try glitter I recommend mixing craft glue in with the printing ink and cleaning your stamp well so the glue doesn’t fill in the details for the next time you want to use it.