Repeat Block Pattern
Like all of my great ideas, I stole this one from my lovely wife Jamie Bertsch. She teaches this process in a collage level textile design class at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.
Although many of the middle school students did not initially understand the process, it was fun to watch their face as their first few prints seamlessly fell into place to make a pattern! Small blocks + big paper = hours of entertainment. For the students that really got into it (aka finished early), I had them carve away a second area from their block and print with another color. I am told if you keep carving away your block until you have nothing left, it’s called a suicide print and the students though that sounded cool.
Here's the run down:
First I had students trace their block or linoleum on a piece of sketch paper
Then sketch a design in the middle – don’t touch the edge!
Cut in half, swop sides and tape together.
Add more designs, don’t touch the edge!
Cut in half, the other way this time, swop sides and tape together.
Add more design ideas, don’t touch the edges.
Carbon transfer process to your linoleum block
Carve
Print print print.
