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Year 8

Working into and refining prints

I can refine and develop my prints by adding media and cropping to develop a concertina book.

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New
New
Year 8

Working into and refining prints

I can refine and develop my prints by adding media and cropping to develop a concertina book.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. By working into prints we can refine and develop our ideas
  2. Adding mixed media to prints can highlight certain areas
  3. By trimming and cutting up prints we can create interesting compositions

Keywords

  • Series - a coherent and unified body of work that employs a similar theme, subject matter or palette of colour across a number of artworks

  • Composition - how the different parts of your artwork (like shapes, colours, and objects) are arranged on the page to make it look balanced and interesting

Common misconception

Once a print is made, it’s finished, and no further changes can be made.

Prints can be developed further using mixed media and physical alterations like cutting. The process of refining a print is an important step to enhance visual interest and highlight specific areas, creativity doesn't stop after the initial print!


To help you plan your year 8 art and design lesson on: Working into and refining prints, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Silhouettes have been provided for you in the Additional Materials, however you could choose to select your own to adapt the lesson to your local context. You could allow students to used previously created prints as well.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

Gelli plate, acrylic paint, roller, silhouttes image, textured surfaces, long paper, glue, scissors, paint, pencils. Optional: prior created prints.

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keyword to its correct definition.
Correct Answer:Reflect ,Evaluating and learning from experiences.
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Evaluating and learning from experiences.

Correct Answer:Refine ,Improving artistic ideas or techniques.
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Improving artistic ideas or techniques.

Q2.
Which is the most likely answer to what a ‘series’ of prints have in common?
Each print is a completely different idea
They are all created in black and white
They all use the same printing technique
Correct answer: They share a theme, subject, or colour palette
Q3.
Fill the gap: A reduction print is created by the plate between each layer.
Correct Answer: carving, carving away, cutting, cutting away, removing some of
Q4.
Why might an artist use opaque ink in printmaking?
To create a see-through effect
Correct answer: To fully cover underlying layers
To let previous colours show through
To make the print lighter and softer
Q5.
Which of the following helps improve an artwork’s composition?
Correct answer: Arranging elements for balance and interest
Keeping all objects the same size and in rows
Randomly placing shapes and colours
Using only black and white colours
Q6.
Fill in the blank: Reflecting on your prints can help you your ideas and techniques.
Correct Answer: refine, improve, upgrade, enhance, make better

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keyword to its correct definition.
Correct Answer:Series,A unified set of artworks with a shared theme.
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A unified set of artworks with a shared theme.

Correct Answer:Composition,The arrangement of elements in an artwork.
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The arrangement of elements in an artwork.

Q2.
What does refining a print mean?
Copying the same print without changes
Correct answer: Making small improvements to develop the artwork
Starting a new print from scratch
Using only one printing technique
Q3.
Fill in the gap: By trimming and cutting up prints, we can create more compositions.
Correct Answer: interesting, eye catching, successful, effective
Q4.
Which of the following is NOT a way to refine a print?
Adding mixed media
Cutting or trimming the print
Removing parts of the print
Correct answer: Leaving it exactly as it is
Q5.
Why might an artist add mixed media to a print?
To create an exact copy of the original print
To cover up mistakes
Correct answer: To highlight or enhance certain areas
To make the print harder to see
Q6.
What makes a print series a unified body of work?
Correct answer: All prints share a similar theme, subject, or colour palette
Each print has a completely different style and subject
Each print is created using a different technique
The prints are random and unconnected

Additional material

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