Intaglio Printing at the Teacher Resource Pack
Contents 2 Intaglio Printing at Ironbridge 3 Printing Presses 4 Printing Plates 5 Preparatory work 6 Pattern activity & National Curriculum links 7 Design sheet 8 Information for teachers 9 Etching of Thomas Telford 10 Coalbrookdale from Paradise Fields William Law 11 The Forge 12 Iron Bridge print by Edmunds of Madeley 13 Iron Bridge print by Rocker 14 Iron Bridge print by Baker 15 The Smelting House 16 Fingerprint 17 Brick and Cast iron pattern 18-20 Examples of students work 1
Intaglio Printing at the The Intaglio Workshop at the s offers an exciting opportunity to make prints using this traditional technique. The use of modern materials and equipment ensures quality outcomes for participants of all ages and abilities. Relief Printing This was the earliest method of printing. The plate is carved away to leave a raised image. Ink is then applied to the image with a dab or roller and when this surface is pressed against paper its mirror image is printed. Lino, woodcut, string and potato printing are all examples of relief printing. You can also see this technique being used in the Printer s shop at Blists Hill Victorian Town where moveable type and authentic presses are used to print posters, leaflets, and paper bags. Intaglio Printing With this method, by contrast, the image is scratched or etched with acid, into a plate. Intaglio is an Italian word meaning to gouge out. When ink is first applied to the plate and then carefully wiped off, some ink will remain trapped in the scratches. The plate is then passed through a press that squeezes it against a sheet of clean paper under extreme force, transferring the ink in the scratches onto the paper. Intaglio can create images with very fine detail. Bank notes are a familiar example of this. 2
Intaglio Printing Presses An intaglio press is not unlike a mangle used to wring the water out of clothes. The plate and paper lie on a flat bed which passes between rollers as the crank is turned. The Williams Press A traditional intaglio press Designed and manufactured locally this press uses a unique gearing system, enabling even the youngest user to generate the high pressure required to transfer the image from the plate to paper. The Williams Press 3
Printing Plates Another important feature of this workshop is the use of plates made from clear HIP plastic. A sheet of this easily marked plastic is fixed in place over the required image that is then traced using a sharp scribe. This allows children to accurately reproduce designs they have first drawn on paper. The workshop produces both outstanding results and a record of the creative process including preparatory pieces, the refined design, the printing plate and finally, the prints themselves. This work can be used to create stunning displays. A design being traced into a clear plastic sheet using a scribe. 4
Preparatory Work Experience has taught us that the more preparation a group makes, the better their outcomes. We offer two choices: Pupils bring designs prepared in the classroom, giving more time for printing during the workshop. There may be time to print a practice piece, and final design in both black and colour. Children use a site visit as inspiration for their designs, using sketchbooks and observation. This will leave time for one print. Preparing a Design for Intaglio Printing If you are going to prepare designs before coming to the museum, we suggest choosing either formal pictorial designs or abstract designs and patterns, according to the age and ability of your pupils and the focus of study. Designs can be landscape or portrait, but should fit in a rectangle 15cm x 12 cm (the size of the plastic printing plates). Formal Pictorial Look at this image. It is made up entirely of lines. Notice how the artist has used these to suggest shadows in the man s face This technique is called hatching. Dots can also be used to create the same effect. Darker tones and shading are created by making scratches in the plate closer together, and by making deeper scratches. Start making designs by drawing an outline of the subject. Next, decide where the light will create shadows then try to make shapes look solid by hatching these areas. Pattern Study at Blists Hill Victorian Town Intaglio really lends itself to printing patterns. The Pattern Study explores shapes and patterns by observing and recording features in the buildings on the site. Pupils will be led around the site by their teacher/group leader who will be following a guide to the trail. 5
A Simple Pattern Activity Divide a piece of paper into six by making two lines across the width of the page, and one line down the length of the page. Try not to make the lines parallel or perpendicular. Fill in each of the six spaces with a different repeating pattern: Try dots, waves, spirals, zigzags, crosses, - anything you like! National Curriculum Links The intaglio printing workshop is a flexible activity that can easily be modified to meet the specific needs of your group. Keys Stages 1 and 2 Art and Design: 1 a/b/(c) 2 a/b/c 4 a/b/c 5 a/b/c/d QCA Schemes of Work Unit 2C: Can buildings speak? Exploring shape and patterns in buildings Unit 3B: Investigating patterns from different times Unit 6C: A sense of place using landscapes to inspire two dimensional work Key Stage 3 Art and Design: 1 a/b/(c) 2 a/b/c 3 a/b 4 a/b/c 5 a/b/c/d QCA Schemes of Work Unit 7B: What s in a building Unit 7C: Recreating landscapes Unit 9A: Life event Visiting a museum, gallery or site GCSE and A Level Preparatory work, plates and final prints can be made into an impressive portfolio and used as course work. Inspiration Look at the following artists and architects or follow the Images link at www.google.com Abstract: Klee Kandinsky Pollock Architects: Gaudi Lloyd-Wright Wren Rennie-Machintosh Intaglio: Da Vinci Rembrandt Paula Rego Turner Patterns: Escher Mondrian Riley Islamic Art Aboriginal Australian Art 6
Design Sheet 7
Information for Teachers For more information or to book a workshop This workshop can be provided on various sites. Blists Hill Victorian Town, Jackfield Tile Museum and Enginuity. Blists Hill Victorian Town: Contact number 01952 601013 Other sites or Outreach session: Contact number 01952 433970 Workshop format We suggest the following itinerary to fit into an average school visit 10-2pm: Pattern trail 1hr 30 min Lunch 45 min Workshop 1hr 45 min Groups bringing their own designs can start their workshops on arrival which allows for larger groups needing two workshops Workshop timings are, however, flexible and can be changed to suit your itinerary Resources and equipment We provide everything required for the printing activity itself. Groups following the pattern trail need to bring clipboards and paper or sketchbooks. Groups not following the pattern trail should bring prepared designs 8
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Brick Paving Pattern Cast Iron Manhole Cover 17
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