Professional Learning and Development

Search no more! Auckland Art Gallery Professional Learning and Development art making courses are now being offered every school holiday.

Learning Through the Creative Process -

WOODCUT PRINTMAKING

APRIL 2013

Eleven teachers participated in our latest PLD art making course on the first Monday of the term 1 holidays. As for the screen printmaking course earlier in the month, we learnt through the creative process. We began by exploring woodcut prints from our collection in the printroom, with Assistant Curator Mathew Norman, then exploring other examples of woodcut prints from our collection in small groups back in the studio.

Some examples of woodcut prints from our collection: 

Crayfish 1953
May Smith
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki



Kingfishers 1953
Robert Gibbings
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki



Philip Clairmont: Tribute 1984
Nigel Brown
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki



Kowhai 1930s
John Moore
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

We experimented with woodcut tools and techniques to create a variety of styles and effects, explored and experimented with a selection of design ideas (pattern, animals, text, shapes, portraits, etc) and finally created a design and then a woodcut block for printing.

We inked up the printing blocks, experimenting with colour mixing and texture.

We shared our design ideas, use of colour and cutting techniques.

Some of the work produced:

At the conclusion of the course we discussed:

• how we could implement these new skills and processes in our own classrooms
• how we would adapt the materials, skills and techniques to suit the age level and needs of the children we teach?

How would you teach this process in your classroom?

Useful links:

• Read our blog from the Auckland Art Gallery screen printing course
• View woodcut prints in our collection
• Learn about woodcut tools and where to get them
• Another blog, outlining the woodcut printmaking process

Next PLD at Auckland Art Gallery is Learning Through the Creative Process - LINOCUT printmaking on Monday 15th July