OBJECTIVE
- Students Will Be Able To (SWBAT) demonstrate the ability to turn feathers into art
- SWBAT master the art of printmaking on feathers
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
- How can feathers be used a printmaking tools
- Can feathers be art themselves?
SUPPLIES
- Gelli Arts® gel printing plate
- Brayer
- Feathers
- Acrylic paint
- Stamps
- Stencils
- Stamping ink
- Paint markers
STEP-BY-STEP
- Step One: Start by rolling out a thin layer of paint on the plate and carefully place the feathers on top. Cover the feathers with a sheet of printing paper and rub carefully. Make sure to apply some extra pressure around the rachis, or the central shaft, of the feather. Remove the paper and lift the feathers from the paint.
- Step Two: Now add a new layer of paint to the plate and layer stencils on top. Use a sheet of printer paper to remove the paint from the open spaces. Then remove the stencils from the plate and place the painted feathers on top of the remaining paint.
- Step Three: If you want to add some bits of extra color to the feathers, just roll out some paint on the plate and lightly push parts of the feathers into the paint.
- Step Four: You can add more patterns and colors using stamps. You can either stamp with a permanent ink or use acrylic paint. Roll out some paint with your brayer and use the brayer to apply paint to your stamp. This way it’s easier to spread the paint evenly and avoid getting a lot of paint in the lower parts of the stamp. Make sure to clean the stamp right after using it!
- Step Five: Finally, you can add some texture and color by creating little splatters. This is very easy with paint markers. Shake them to mix the pigments and then hit them with something a little bit heavier like a big brush.
- Step Six: Look at the beautiful feathers you have made! You can frame them as a piece of art, use them in your art journal, or as an embellishment on scrapbook pages. You could even use them to spice up a nicely wrapped gift!
IMAGES REFERENCED
