Andy Warhol Linoleum Prints

Lesson Plan Submitted by: Ken Schwab Leigh High School Art Department
Unit: Printmaking - Multi-plate Relief Prints
Lesson Plan: Linoleum prints - Andy Warhol Style
Grade Level: High School

 

Motivation:

It was a lesson with Andy Warhol. Ken used a lot of his works to show how he changed colors and made each print special but a part of the group.

 

Objectives:

1. Create a print using multiple blocks

2. Utilize the elements and principles of design in creating a strong design.

3. Demonstrate skill in carving the block and registration of colors.

4. Show appreciation and awareness of the work of Andy Warhol

            

      
Click on thumbnails to see larger views - use your back arrow to return to this page.

 

Materials needed:
Linoleum, Linoleum Cutters
Inking Plates, Newsprint
Drawing Pencils
Magic Rub Erasers or Kneaded Rubber Erasers
Assorted Block Printing Inks
Brayers, Wooden spoons
Good Drawing Paper, Rulers

 

Books on Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol Treasures - Packed with information about Warhol's prolific creativity, as well as his other cultural interests, the project follows the arc of his life. This beautifully illustrated publication reveals Warhol's rags-to-riches life from his early years in Depression-era Pittsburgh to his success as an illustrator in New York City.

Andy Warhol Prints: 1962-1987 - This catalogue raisonne, updated from previous editions with 500 new images, comes a step closer to defining the prodigious pop artist's legacy in a medium he re-imagined for modern times, printmaking, and which was central to his life's work.

 

Books on Block Printing

Block Printing: Techniques for Linoleum and Wood - Detailed, illustrated instructions for selecting tools, paper, and ink; carving both linoleum and wood; and printing by hand in one color or more to achieve professional results

 

Web Images

• Marilyn Monroe by Andy Warhol

• Campbell's Soup Cans by Andy Warhol

• Cows by Andy Warhol

Procedures:
1. Choose a subject that is easy to stylize, such as people's faces or objects that are close. Simple is better. Make a sketch of the entire composition and have it fit the size of the block. Do this on newsprint and make many changes as are needed. Use only outline shapes and don't use any shading. Anything that needs shading is going to be simplified to a shape.

2. Place Tracing Paper over the sketch and try to separate the design into three plates. These plate should include the entire design and will print the complete outline of the block when finished. One is usually the background and one is the back colors to the subject and the third can be outlines. Plan for three blocks.

3. Trace out the shapes of each area and transfer to each block. Use a black felt pen to color in the area to be printed and leave the rest bare.

4. Use Linoleum Cutters and such to remove all the area that is not black.

5. Make a practice print by starting with the background areas and with the colored inks, mix new colors or make gradations with more than one brayer. place the block face down on the paper and with a board underneath the paper pull it around and remove the board. With the back of the paper showing, rub all over with the back of a spoon to press the ink and complete a print.

6. When dry, ink up the second block and carefully drop it using the edges of the first print as a guide. Turn it over and repeat the process for the next print. Repeat this for the last block and it will be ready to proofread.

7. Look at the blocks and see that they line up make corrections or make a note to move it over to one side if needed.

8. With a larger piece of drawing paper 80# or better, use a pencil and ruler to make a light line for the edge of the print cross it with another to form the corner. Line up the first print to this edge and then the rest in line with that. Use three, six or nine prints varying the colors and values in each block. We use color schemes or even the chromatic scale as Warhol did.

9. Each print must be done after the last is dry so this takes a while. You can print one in the morning, on at lunch and one after school. Some students print one after another without smearing but you take a big chance with that.

10. I use water based inks for easy cleanup. Don't waste ink and if they make too much see if another student needs that color and share. Plan ahead the colors to use, change values and go opposite the normal colors to give interest.