By examining printmaking techniques such as drypoint, etching, soft ground etching, aquatint and reservage, my paper explores the ideal sketching method for each one, and details my experiments with younger students to determine how creating an appropriate sketch affects the qualities of the final composition. I present the method for producing a matrix in each technique, as well as the printing and materials used for its realisation.
I also explored the methods for making sketches in order to determine which are most compatible with each printing technique. Another aspect I studied was the application of these techniques when teaching younger pupils, including issues with certain chemical techniques and possible solutions to make them safe for the classroom environment. The work and artistic development of pupils was also examined in the context of learning these methods for transferring sketches onto a matrix.
As a teaching experiment I carried out two lessons for students in the 8th grade of elementary school. Pupils of one division made matrices with the help of an art template, or sketch, while the other division completed their matrices without a sketch. By analysing the works of pupils in each group I concluded that a sketch provides a solid base for younger students to build on, resulting in more refined compositions, while students without a template had work that was either too simplistic and empty or overly chaotic.
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