271-Styrofoam Printmaking Lesson Plan

This is easier than you might think. Kids love making prints.

Aims: To make a multiple
To learn the process of styrofoam printing

Materials & Tools:
styrofoam meat trays (Sometimes you may get them for free at the grocery store if you ask nicely but they’re also available in art catalogs)
pencil
water soluble printmaking ink
xerox paper or fadeless
inking tray

Procedure:
As in other lessons, choose your theme. This could be a group project if you wish.
Let’s assume you’re doing a project on “Women in History.” Each student would research a woman and draw a practice line drawing of her. Next the student will draw the image again on the styrofoam plate with a pencil. This is a backwards process, so avoid words or numbers.
Tell the students that they are going to try to “trick the ink” so they have to make the lines deep enough. Be sure to trim the edges carefully so the raised edges won’t print funny.
When ready to print, have the ink set up on a table with plenty of newspaper or a phone book to keep things clean. Put some ink on a try, toothpaste-style, Use the brayer to make an square going back and forth creating “kissing” sounds. If it looks like icing and is slippery, you have too much ink on your tray.
I show students how to print and then let them line up to use the color they want. Usually I’ll have 3-4 printing tables, each with a different color. Student put their names on the paper first before getting on line. (They should try several different colors of paper for variety.) Ink color should not be changed until the plate is completely dry, or you’ll get a blurry, messy print.
Ink the plate smoothly and evenly, being sure to get the corners of the plate. Change the paper underneath after inking, so print will be clean. Lay the paper on the plate and rub with the flat of your hand. Do not scratch, as that will print. Lift up and pull off. If you rub too long the plate will start to dry and it will be hard to remove the paper, so work quickly.
Put print on rack or hang to dry and repeat the process. When done with all the prints you can trim the edges and glue onto larger paper. Decorate the border, if you wish.

Variations: You can have each student make enough prints for everyone and then make a portfolio or book for each member of your class. Another idea is to make a paper quilt and glue into a large piece. Another idea is to cut your plate into a shape--say a fish--to make a group project on a large piece of paper. (For this you have to put your plate on top of the paper, so it’s harder to rub.)

Reflection:
Share with your students and display.