here comes the sun

 Every spring when the sun begins to finally stay out, 8th graders get to create softkut relief prints using a sun motif.  It is always fun to see what ideas they come up with for their drawings.  We talk about creating a mood with their sun and how mood is effected by design elements and the layout of composition. 

Students create two sun designs, one on the front, one on the back, on a 4 by 4 inch plate. Students then carve the design so that is about 50% raised and 50% carved away.  This makes the design more interesting than a simple line drawing. 

 Students then print their suns using black, red or pink, yellow, and turquoise or blue.  They can create a single layer or double layer using one or both designs.  Students are encouraged to experiment with the layering of color, composition and positioning of their plate to see what happens... which is just one of the fun parts of printing!

It is fun to see the prints put together on a bulletin board or printed

on a sheet of colored paper for a quilted look.  Students also alter some

of their prints with crayons, markers, or glitter pens.

 We create a set of Artist Trading Cards from their designs,

changing their compositions to 2.5 by 3.5 inches.  This can be a challenge,

but teaches students how to create a variety of designs from one idea.