LESSON 4
EXPLORING ELEMENTARY TECHNIQUES LEADING TO BLOCK PRINTING
STRUCTURE 4.0
OBJECTIVES
4.1
INTRODUCTION
4.2
MATERIALS REQUIRED
4.3
EXPLORING THE USE OF OBJECTS AS BLOCKS
4.4
USES OF THE TECHNIQUE DESCRIBED
4.5
ASSIGNMENTS 4.5.1 CLASS ASSIGNMENTS 4.5.2 HOME ASSIGNMENTS
4.6
SUMMING UP
4.7
TERMINAL QUESTIONS
4.8
GLOSSARY
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4. EXPLORING ELEMENTARY TECHNIQUES LEADING TO BLOCK PRINTING In this second unit of the course on ‘Textile Ornamentation Techniques’ we are going to introduce you to the basics of an interesting technique of Textile Ornamentation, namely, Block Printing. In the first lesson of this unit we will look around us to see how we can use different objects, creatively, as Printing Blocks. In the second and third lessons we will cover two simple forms of this technique, namely, Potato Printing and Matchstick Printing, respectively. These techniques are considered as stepping stones to the more advanced techniques of professional Block Printing.
4.0
Objectives After going through this lesson you will be able to
4.1
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Understand how to use some very common materials, which have some shape, as blocks.
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Understand how to use these blocks creatively to print attractive designs.
Introduction
One of the important techniques of ornamenting or beautifying fabrics is Block Printing. In this unit we will learn about some elementary techniques of printing which acted as a prelude to Block Printing. In the first lesson of this unit (Lesson 4), we will explore our surroundings to discover various objects which can be used as blocks to print designs. In Lesson 5, we will move one step ahead and learn how to make a printing block from a potato. In Lesson 6, we will learn how to make a printing block using matchsticks. So, let us begin our journey and try to pick up objects from our everyday life, which can be used to make creative block designs on paper. We do not have to go very far as we have seen that the thumb, after pressing it on an inkpad can provide a unique
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and attractive impression on paper. So can the palm. Even mundane objects such as screws and bolts, on being given a coat of colour, can result in pleasing prints on paper. However, it is instructive to recall what we learnt about colour, texture and design in the first semester and to remember that making a piece of design or art work is not just about mechanically making impressions on a surface. It involves creativity and aesthetic sense also.
4.2
Materials Required The materials required for making prints from everyday objects are listed below.
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Everyday objects (Fig. 4.1), which can be used as blocks for printing.
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Stamp pads of different colours or poster colours or fabric paints.
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Sketch pens, glitter pens and markers etc. (Fig. 4.2).
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A - 4 size sheets (10).
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Plain envelopes (5).
Fig. 4.1 Everyday objects that can be used as blocks for printing
Fig. 4.2 Stationery required
Activity 1. Collect some objects in your house which can be used as blocks for printing. Take two white envelops and decorate them with these blocks.
4.3
Exploring the Use of Objects as Blocks
Let us now commence the journey of exploring various objects around us. We will attempt to use these objects as ready made blocks, for printing. This exercise will 3
not just involve picking up different objects and making use of them to make impressions on a sheet of paper but it will also require you to use your creativity and aesthetic sense, to make interesting and appealing designs, with the help of these objects. While making designs with the help of these objects, we will have to keep in mind the principles of use of colour combinations that we had learnt in the first semester, for example, principles for use of warm colours, cool colours etc. When developing our own designs on paper we will also want to remember how to use the space available on the paper. Using the knowledge that we have acquired while studying about placement of design, it would be important to remember the basic principles and decide, what format of placement of design we would want to choose, in making the composition. For example we could choose: •
Equidistant placement
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Half-drop placement
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All over placement
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Vertical placement
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Horizontal placement
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Diagonal placement etc.
After making the designs on a sheet of paper, we can further ornament them with the help of a sketch pen, glitter pen, markers or any other medium. The basic idea in any design activity is that, on completing the composition, it should give us joy and satisfaction. Three printed designs, using pencil back, fork and bottle caps respectively, show that the technique is quite versatile (Fig. 4.3).
Fig. 4.3 Block prints made using pencil back, fork and bottle cap respectively
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Activity 2. Using a fork and three poster colours make a gift wrapping paper. 3. Now decorate this gift wrapping paper further using glitter pens or sketch pens.
4.4
Uses of the Technique Described Designs we make with the help of such objects can be used for:
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Decorating envelopes
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Making greeting cards
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Making gift wrapping papers
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Decorating handkerchiefs
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Ornamenting objects like pencil stands, flower vases etc.
Activity 4. Make 4 greeting cards for various festivals, using the objects described above.
4.5
Assignments
4.5.1 Class Assignment i)
Using objects available around make interesting designs on A4 size paper. Objects of different shapes should be used creatively, using harmonious colour schemes, such that the designs are visually appealing. Try to make three such compositions.
4.5.2 Home Assignment i)
Using thumb as the object and a stamp-pad as the colour, create four designs on four A4 size papers employing four different placements. Which of these four designs can be considered to be the best and why?
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4.6
Summing Up
There are a large number of objects around us, which can be used for doing creative printing work on paper or fabric. For getting exciting results, printing should be done creatively and aesthetically keeping in mind the principles of: •
Use of different colours and colour types.
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Creative use of space, and
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Attractive placement of design formats etc. These elementary techniques led to the popular Block Printing technique.
4.7
Terminal Questions
1. Briefly explain how can the day-to-day objects be used as blocks for printing? 2. What do we need to keep in mind while making designs with various objects?
4.8
Glossary
1.
Creatively
Imaginatively, Inventively
2.
Stepping stone
Progress, increase towards a goal by stages
3.
Mundane
Earthly, everyday
4.
Aesthetic
Relating to appreciation of art and beauty
5.
Versatile
Having many skills or uses
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