8VA ARTMAKING PRACTICE

YEAR 8 VISUAL ARTS NATIVE AUSTRALIAN FLORA LINO PRINTING

Inspired by artists Margaret Preston, Rachel Newling and Kit Hiller, you will create your own
suite of lino prints. These artists utilise a highly stylised approach. This means their style is
an interpretation of the subject matter (in this case native Australian flora); Their stylistic
approach is simplified, bold and exaggerated, and this is applied to all the elements of art
in their paintings and prints.
MARGARET PRESTON

RACHEL NEWLING

KIT HILLER
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What visual qualities do you observe in Preston, Newling’s and Hiller’s prints?
Use appropriate adjectives to describe the following elements of art:
Colour ________________________________________________
Line__________________________________________________
Shape________________________________________________
Texture_______________________________________________
Composition___________________________________________

RESEARCH:

• Art Historical and Critical Study: Margaret Preston

• Go online and search for images of Australian native flora. This can include flowers
and leaves and pods. You should avoid images of flower arrangements unless you
intend to crop a section or detail of the image. Collect up to 5 visual references so
you can compose your own image.
PLANNING:

• Draw up a 30x30cm square on a piece of paper or cardboard.

• In the 30 x 30cm template, start drafting your composition using the images of
flowers etc.
• Play around with varying the scale of the flowers you’ve chosen. They don’t have to
be proportionate to each other. Exaggerate the scale of different flowers to create
interesting contrast with your shapes. Include some abstract shapes and lines in your
background to add some surface depth to your design. These shapes and lines will
also create visual contrast with your flowers.
EXPERIMENTATION:
Once you have drafted your composition, you’ll need to start thinking
about the ratio of black to white as you’ll be printing these in black
printmaking ink.

• Always remember, the carved areas will be white, and the

uncarved areas will print in black. See below:
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ARTMAKING:

• Once your 30x30cm design is complete, ensure you have shaded in the black/solid
areas of your design. It’s very important your design demonstrates the white from
black areas, this includes the background. Spend the time to draw this contrast in.
• Transfer the design to your lino using the carbon transfer method. Your teacher will
demonstrate this.

• Once your design is transferred to lino, you will begin carving BUT you MUST watch
the safety video first.
• Carving lino is a slow and careful process and requires a steady hand and controlled
approach. Do not rush the carving process, follow safety tips and focus carefully
whilst carving.

RESOLVING and REFINING:

As you approach the completion of your work take a moment to evaluate if any
improvements and finishing touches can be made to the carving. This is the point in your
artmaking that requires an understanding of whether your artwork is complete. Ask yourself:
do areas need to be tidied up? Does the balance of black and white create enough visual
contrast? This final stage of artmaking is an opportunity to refine the overall quality of your
artwork and display attention to detail.
Once you’ve done this you can begin printing with the guidance of our teacher. This final part
of the process involves inking up your lino block and passing your block under the printing
press to create an impression of your carving.
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SOME VISUAL INSPIRATION: