Printmaking for Children - Introducing the Brayer

Simple printmaking can be done at a very young age. Children can print with any objects that has a shape and a relatively flat surface.

• Potato printing is a traditional method of printing for young children, where by a shape is cut into the surface of half a potato. Other vegetables can be use for their difference in shape.

• Painting on half of a sheet of paper and then folding the paper over is another method of printing by mirroring the applied paint on the opposite side of the paper.

• Finger paintings also can be printed - a pool of paint on a slippery surface, such as a tray, can be swirled around and drawn in with the fingers then printed by placing paper over the top and rubbing firmly.

•  Household objects can be printed with or any thing which had an interesting texture, such as cotton reels, potato mashers, toy cards, cups etc.

•  Printing with sponge shapes

Printing sponges

Foam dabbers

Foam dabbers make wonderful prints which can be joined together to create a background, depth of colour applied by re-applying paint in certain areas and they can also be used make lines and shapes.

Sponge Rollers

The value of a brayer roller in printmaking with children

Brayer rollers

We have added brayer rollers to our children's art product range. Overall, there are so many uses, no child should be with out a brayer. We believe their use to be invaluable when it comes to art with children.

Brayers are used for lino printing. Strength is required to cut  lino and the tools are sharp. However, great results can be achieved once children are old enough to do it.

The brayer is loaded with ink or paint and rolled over the lino, once the design has been cut into the surface. Paper or fabric is placed on top and pressed.

This can be pressed by rolling with a clean brayer.

Large Paint Stampers

For younger children, a brayer can be used with stampers to roll the paint evenly onto the surface of the stamp.

Rainbow Ink Pad

Brayers can be used by rolling on an ink pad. Applying pressure to the paper with the roller will make a wonderful background which can be graduated in colour.

And last but not least, a brayer is an excellent tool for rolling on top of something that has been glued, while the glue is wet, to save lumps and bumps forming and spread the glue evenly underneath. Well worth the investment just for that!

Cabbage leaf printing

Printing with foam dabbers

Printing with string

Printed butterfly

Painting with Children.

Exploring paint and painting techniques with children - creative painting.

Paint Types for Children's Use

When choosing paint for the piece of art work intended, it is important to realise that the end result will be different, depending on your chosen paint

Water based paint, known as watercolour is available in many forms.Tempera powder paint, ready mixed paint, the liquid form, and block paints are all used with water as their base. Acrylic paint, being produced from acrylic, is generally thicker and more opaque than watercolour. It can also be diluted with water. Oil paint is not an ideal paint for children to use as it takes so long to dry.

Experimenting with Painting Techniques

The painting technique used will also give a different outcome. A paint brush does not always have to be used. To help foster creativity within children, encourage them to think of all possibilities of materials used and techniques.

Our Painting Session on Chinese Art

We researched examples of Chinese art and decided on painting Cherry Blossom.

We noted the delicacy of the painting by the Chinese and the quick accurate movements within their style of painting. Based on this we thought watercolour would be the best paint to use - it would flow easily and also leave a variation in intensity.
Initially we planned on using a paint brush to paint the branch but then decided blow painting might be more naturally spontaneous, even if difficult to control .
We needed to find something we could print the petals of the flowers with. We liked the idea of the circular protrusions from the base of a plastic bottle, but this would have been too big. However we did think, if painting on a large scale, this would be very effective.
We tried using our finger tips but still they were to big for the size of the branch. The answer was a pencil end dipped in the paint. We added a tiny red flecks of paint to the flowers once printed in pink paint.
Finally to create the signature we translated our names into Chinese writing and added at the side, as can be seen on many paintings of this type, though not sure it is quite right.

Chinese Cherry blossom