Unit 2: Printmaking Portfolio
In this unit, you will explore printmaking as both an artistic process and a method of repetition. You will design and create your own collagraph printing plate, experiment with ink and repetition, create a radial print, and use your printing plate to transform a handmade portfolio into an original work of art.
Throughout the unit, we will focus on craftsmanship, balance, repetition, unity, harmony, layering, and intentional color choices.
Essential Questions
How can artists use repetition to create visual interest?
How do balance, unity, and harmony strengthen a composition?
How can the same printing plate create different artistic results?
How do craftsmanship and experimentation affect the printmaking process?
Important Concepts
Art Process: Printmaking & Relief Printing
Art Concepts: Balance, Repetition, Unity, Harmony & Craftsmanship
Final Products: Collagraph Plate, Radial Print & Handmade Portfolio
Part 1: Introduction to Printmaking
What Is Printmaking?
Printmaking is an art form in which an artist transfers ink from a prepared surface onto paper or another material.
Unlike many drawing and painting processes, printmaking allows an artist to create multiple original impressions from the same plate.
Printmaking Vocabulary
Matrix/Plate — The prepared surface used to create a print.
Print — One impression created from a printing plate.
Edition — A group of prints created from the same plate.
Relief Printing — A printing process in which the raised areas of a surface receive ink and create the printed image.
Printing plates can be created from many materials, including:
Wood
Linoleum
Metal
Stone
Fabric
Cardboard
Found and textured materials
The Art of Repetition
Printmaking is sometimes described as the art of repetition, but every impression can still be unique.
Artists can intentionally change:
Ink colors
Paper colors
Placement
Rotation
Layering
Pressure
Repetition
Composition
These choices allow one printing plate to produce many different results.
Artists to Know
Throughout this unit, we will look at artists who used different forms of printmaking, including:
Albrecht Dürer
Katsushika Hokusai
Utagawa Kunisada
Henri Matisse
M.C. Escher
Andy Warhol
Jasper Johns
Roy Lichtenstein
Katsushika Hokusai Andy Warhol Roy Lichtenstein Albrecht Dürer Shepard Fairey Henri Matisse Jasper Johns Kunisada Katsushika Hokusai Andy Warhol
Sketchbook Activity
Complete the Printmaking Notes in your sketchbook.
Part 2: Balance
Before creating your first print, we will review balance as a principle of design.
Balance is the distribution of visual weight within an artwork.
Types of Balance
Symmetrical Balance — Both sides of a composition have similar visual weight.
Asymmetrical Balance — Different elements are arranged so that the composition still feels visually balanced.
Radial Balance — Elements radiate outward from a central point.
Visual/Value Balance — A small, intense or high-contrast area can visually balance a larger, quieter or more neutral area.
Sketchbook Activity
Complete the Balance Worksheet Practice.
Part 3: Collagraph Printmaking
What Is a Collagraph?
A collagraph is a printing plate created by attaching or manipulating materials on a rigid surface to create different textures and raised areas.
Once the plate is complete, ink is applied to its surface and transferred onto paper.
Important Vocabulary
Relief — A technique in which parts of an artwork project or stand out from a flat base surface.
Additive Method — Creating relief by adding materials to the surface.
Subtractive Method — Creating relief by removing material from a surface so that the remaining areas create the design.
Planning
Before building your printing plate, complete the:
Project 1: Create Your Collagraph Plate
Step 1: Design & Build
Create a 6" × 6" collagraph printing plate using additive, subtractive, or a combination of both methods.
Your design should include:
A variety of shapes, lines, and/or textures
Clear raised and recessed areas
Intentional positive and negative space
Strong craftsmanship
A design that will create interesting repetition when rotated
Before gluing materials permanently, consider how your design will look when it is printed, repeated, and rotated.
Demonstration
Project 2: Radial Collagraph Print
Step 2: Print Your Radial Design
Use your completed 6" × 6" collagraph plate to create a 12" × 12" radial composition.
Your plate will be printed multiple times and rotated around a central point to create radial balance.
Requirements
Your final print should demonstrate:
Radial balance
Repetition
Intentional placement
Consistent printing
Thoughtful color choices
Strong craftsmanship
Clean presentation
Experiment with your plate before creating your final print. Not every test print needs to be perfect — proofing and experimentation are part of the printmaking process.
Demonstration
Project 3: Printmaking Portfolio
Now we will use our printmaking skills to create a functional portfolio for storing artwork.
Step 3: Construct Your Portfolio
Follow the demonstration to correctly measure, fold, cut, and assemble your portfolio.
Step 4: Print Your Portfolio
Use your collagraph plate to create a repeated print design across the front and back of your portfolio.
Leave the portfolio flap/tab blank for your name design.
Think intentionally about:
Repetition
Pattern
Rotation
Placement
Layering
Color
Positive and negative space
How the front and back relate to one another
Your portfolio should feel like a complete composition, not a collection of random stamps.
Resources
Part 4: Unity & Harmony
For the final portion of your portfolio, you will design the flap using your name as the focal point.
Unity occurs when the elements of an artwork work together to create a complete, cohesive composition.
Harmony occurs when related visual elements — such as colors, shapes, lines, textures, or patterns — work together successfully.
Step 5: Create Your Name Design
Design your name on the portfolio flap so that it visually connects to the printmaking on the rest of your portfolio.
Consider:
Lettering style
Shape
Line
Pattern
Color
Repetition
Contrast
Placement
Your name should be easy to identify but creatively incorporated into the overall design.
Final Portfolio Checklist
Before submitting Unit 2, make sure you have completed:
Printmaking Notes
Balance Practice
Collagraph Sketch/Planning
6" × 6" Collagraph Plate
12" × 12" Radial Collagraph Print
Constructed Portfolio
Collagraph printing covering the front and back
Name design on the portfolio flap
Final craftsmanship check
Final Expectations
Your completed work should demonstrate experimentation, intentional design choices, strong craftsmanship, and an understanding of printmaking.
Remember: printmaking naturally includes variation and imperfections. The goal is not for every print to look mechanically identical. The goal is to learn from each impression and make intentional artistic decisions throughout the process.
Unit 2: Printmaking Portfolio Rubric
4 — Exceeds Expectations | 3 — Meets Expectations | 2 — Approaching Expectations | 1 — Beginning
Criteria | 4 — Exceeds | 3 — Meets | 2 — Approaching | 1 — Beginning |
Collagraph Plate & Design | Plate is thoughtfully designed with strong use of texture, shape, positive/negative space, and relief. Design creates interesting results when repeated and rotated. | Plate is complete and demonstrates intentional use of texture, shape, and relief. Design works successfully as a printing plate. | Plate is complete but design is simple, inconsistent, or has limited texture/relief. Some areas do not print successfully. | Plate is incomplete, rushed, or demonstrates little understanding of collagraph/relief techniques. |
Printmaking Technique | Prints are consistently strong and demonstrate excellent control of ink, pressure, placement, and registration. Student successfully experiments and adjusts technique when needed. | Prints demonstrate successful control of ink, pressure, and placement. Most impressions are clear and intentional. | Printing is inconsistent. Too much/little ink, uneven pressure, or placement issues interfere with the design. | Limited control of the printing process. Prints are incomplete, unclear, or show little evidence of proper technique. |
Radial Print & Balance | 12" × 12" print demonstrates strong radial balance, repetition, and intentional composition. Rotation and placement create a visually engaging design. | Print successfully demonstrates radial balance and repetition with thoughtful placement of the collagraph prints. | Radial balance or repetition is partially successful, but placement, spacing, or rotation is inconsistent. | Composition is incomplete or demonstrates limited understanding of radial balance and repetition. |
Portfolio Design: Unity & Harmony | Front, back, and name flap work together as one cohesive artwork. Repetition, color, pattern, and lettering demonstrate strong unity and harmony. | Portfolio demonstrates unity and harmony. Printing and name design visually relate to one another. | Some elements relate, but the overall portfolio lacks consistency or feels disconnected in places. | Portfolio elements appear unrelated, unfinished, or demonstrate little consideration of unity and harmony. |
Creativity & Artistic Choices | Student takes creative risks and makes highly intentional choices with color, layering, repetition, rotation, texture, and/or composition. Work demonstrates a strong individual voice. | Student makes thoughtful artistic choices and demonstrates originality within the project requirements. | Some artistic choices are evident, but student relies heavily on examples or chooses predictable solutions. | Limited evidence of personal decision-making, experimentation, or creative problem-solving. |
Craftsmanship | Work is exceptionally well constructed and presented. Printing, cutting, folding, gluing, and finishing are clean and precise. | Work is carefully constructed and presented with only minor craftsmanship issues. | Several craftsmanship issues distract from the finished work, such as messy ink, folds, cuts, glue, or damaged paper. | Work is rushed, damaged, incomplete, or poorly constructed. Craftsmanship significantly interferes with the final presentation. |
Studio Process & Completion | Student uses studio time exceptionally well, completes planning/proofing, independently solves problems, and completes all required components. | Student uses studio time appropriately and completes required planning, practice, and final components. | Student needs frequent reminders to stay productive and/or has missing planning, practice, or final components. | Student frequently does not use studio time productively and has significant missing or incomplete work. |
Overall Score
4 — Exceeds Expectations: Work goes beyond the requirements through exceptional craftsmanship, experimentation, technical skill, and intentional artistic choices.
3 — Meets Expectations: Work successfully meets the requirements and demonstrates understanding of printmaking techniques and the principles of design.
2 — Approaching Expectations: Work demonstrates partial understanding but needs additional development, refinement, craftsmanship, or completion.
1 — Beginning: Work demonstrates limited understanding of the unit concepts and/or is significantly incomplete.
Unit 2 Required Components
☐ Printmaking Notes
☐ Balance Practice
☐ Collagraph Sketch/Planning
☐ 6" × 6" Collagraph Plate
☐ Test/Proof Prints
☐ 12" × 12" Radial Print
☐ Constructed & Printed Portfolio☐ Unity/Harmony Name Design
Comments