Print and Watercolor Workshop with KARL STEPHAN
Karl believes the still life tradition can be updated to serve as an inclusive means of communication across cultures. He has developed several compelling new painting and printmaking techniques, which convey the energy, diversity, and grit of his Central Square neighborhood. Local influences include street life, farmers markets, festivals, food culture, thrift stores and the famous graffiti wall. Original and technically innovative, his work is also colorful, direct and easy to understand.
Karl believes the still life tradition can be updated to serve as an inclusive means of communication across cultures. He has developed several compelling new painting and printmaking techniques, which convey the energy, diversity, and grit of his Central Square neighborhood. Local influences include street life, farmers markets, festivals, food culture, thrift stores and the famous graffiti wall. Original and technically innovative, his work is also colorful, direct and easy to understand.
The Art of Printmaking with Water Color:
Pen and Ink with Water Color:
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Karl in the classroom and studio time with the kids.
7th and 8th grade water color relief prints inspired by Karl Stephan
6th grade student watercolors inspired by Karl Stephan
BIG IDEA: Students will create a hand colored relief print and an India ink and watercolor painting with contemporary artist Karl Stephan
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ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING:
1. View the watercolor still life prints of Karl Stephan and other artists throughout history.
Printmakers: Roy Nydorf, Gabor Peterdi, M.C. Escher
Still Life Artists: Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, Georgia O’Keefe
2. Create a drawing that reflects the work of Karl Stephan or other master artisans that celebrate the art of the still life.
3. Transfer your drawing to your matrix (printing plate) by placing pastel on the back of your drawing, place on top of matrix and trace.
4. Make sure to thicken your lines and carve the composition on your matrix. Go around the contour not on top of. Simplicity is key. Basic shapes, outline, pattern. Leave space for color while cutting most of the top layer.
5. Make a proof print and revise parts of your composition that need to be cut on your matrix. Repeat as necessary.
6. With a final print cut out the paper elements to create a template for tracing.
7. Create an outline drawing in pencil by tracing the paper stock elements on printing or watercolor paper. NOTE: Be sure to trace the outer edges as well.
8. Fill in the outline drawing with watercolor. HINT: Let the colors flow and don’t be afraid to mix!
9. Print over the dried watercolor using the original block. NOTE: use the outer edges you traced to line up (register) your printing block.
10. Repeat and make a series of at least four.
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HOW DO I KNOW WHEN I AM FINISHED? : You will have a series of (at least) 4 prints with watercolor that demonstrate overall quality and craftsmanship.
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MAGNET CONNECTIONS:
Subtractive manufacturing, the taking away of materials to make a product, is one of the oldest forms of manufacturing. Flint tools and arrowheads were some of the earliest items manufactured this way. It is also one of the most essential forms of manufacturing used in the Arts. Whether it is a statue carved by Michelangelo, a Chinese print made from a wood carving or diamond in a diamond ring all use subtractive manufacturing in one form or another.
Going further....
If not for advancements in printmaking, we would never have books, newspapers and possibly the advancement of computer communications. Commercial engineers use the principles of printmaking techniques and technology in graphics, advertisement, blueprints for construction, industry and machinery. Many printmakers shadow experienced printmakers to gain practical and real life experience. Printmakers typically start out performing simple techniques and move on to more advanced tasks as they gain experience and improve their skills. Many printmakers prepare detailed portfolios to showcase their work to potential employers and clients. They often complete continuing education and additional training throughout their careers to improve their skills and stay current with advancements in the field.
If you want to explore further check out these websites:
Types of printmaking
History of the woodcut
More history of the woodcut
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ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
- How might it be possible to improve or advance a centuries old printmaking process with modern techniques?
- “How might we introduce visually interesting color into relief prints made with just one block?” - K. Stephan
KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING:
- Hand-coloring black and white prints often yields “coloring book” results.
- The natural “flow” of watercolors provides for beautiful organic effects.
- It is possible to print over dried watercolor without damaging the color.
- How to create a composition with great detail, complexity and expression while experimenting with the simplest of material.
- BLOCK In printing, a piece of thick, flat material, with a design on its surface, used to print repeated impressions of that design. Called a PLATE in etching and engraving (metal).
- MATRIX: In printmaking the matrix is whatever is used, with ink, to hold the image that makes up the print, whether a plate in etching and engraving or a woodblock in woodcut.
- POSITIVE/NEGATIVE SPACE The object (s) of the image is the positive space. The space around and between the objects in a print or picture. In this case the negative space is the space that you dodo NOT ink on your block.
- PRINT : The actual picture the artist makes from a printmaking process.
- RELIEF: Printmaking technique in which the image is printed from a raised surface, usually produced by cutting away non-image material.
- REDUCTION BLOCK PRINT: When one block is printed several times, removing a portion and changing. Color each time (working from lightest to darkest and location is critical)
- REGISTRATION MARKS: Alignment marks made at the surface of paper before printing. The lines help to ensure the paper is printed properly with the image and colors.
- TRIAL PRINT: A proof pulled from a block, plate, or stone to check the appearance of the image to make sure it is all right before making the edition. After a critical or important change is made on a plate, it is necessary to see what has been done before going to the next step; checking to see if a change was successful. (PROOFING)
- WATERCOLOR: Transparent pigment mixed with water. Paintings done with this medium are known as watercolors.
1. View the watercolor still life prints of Karl Stephan and other artists throughout history.
Printmakers: Roy Nydorf, Gabor Peterdi, M.C. Escher
Still Life Artists: Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, Georgia O’Keefe
2. Create a drawing that reflects the work of Karl Stephan or other master artisans that celebrate the art of the still life.
3. Transfer your drawing to your matrix (printing plate) by placing pastel on the back of your drawing, place on top of matrix and trace.
4. Make sure to thicken your lines and carve the composition on your matrix. Go around the contour not on top of. Simplicity is key. Basic shapes, outline, pattern. Leave space for color while cutting most of the top layer.
5. Make a proof print and revise parts of your composition that need to be cut on your matrix. Repeat as necessary.
6. With a final print cut out the paper elements to create a template for tracing.
7. Create an outline drawing in pencil by tracing the paper stock elements on printing or watercolor paper. NOTE: Be sure to trace the outer edges as well.
8. Fill in the outline drawing with watercolor. HINT: Let the colors flow and don’t be afraid to mix!
9. Print over the dried watercolor using the original block. NOTE: use the outer edges you traced to line up (register) your printing block.
10. Repeat and make a series of at least four.
________________________________________________________________________________________
HOW DO I KNOW WHEN I AM FINISHED? : You will have a series of (at least) 4 prints with watercolor that demonstrate overall quality and craftsmanship.
________________________________________________________________________________________
MAGNET CONNECTIONS:
Subtractive manufacturing, the taking away of materials to make a product, is one of the oldest forms of manufacturing. Flint tools and arrowheads were some of the earliest items manufactured this way. It is also one of the most essential forms of manufacturing used in the Arts. Whether it is a statue carved by Michelangelo, a Chinese print made from a wood carving or diamond in a diamond ring all use subtractive manufacturing in one form or another.
Going further....
If not for advancements in printmaking, we would never have books, newspapers and possibly the advancement of computer communications. Commercial engineers use the principles of printmaking techniques and technology in graphics, advertisement, blueprints for construction, industry and machinery. Many printmakers shadow experienced printmakers to gain practical and real life experience. Printmakers typically start out performing simple techniques and move on to more advanced tasks as they gain experience and improve their skills. Many printmakers prepare detailed portfolios to showcase their work to potential employers and clients. They often complete continuing education and additional training throughout their careers to improve their skills and stay current with advancements in the field.
If you want to explore further check out these websites:
Types of printmaking
History of the woodcut
More history of the woodcut