Art and Design · Year 7 · Printmaking and Multiples · Summer Term

Collagraphy: Texture Prints

Creating collagraph plates using various textured materials to produce unique prints with rich surface qualities.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• KS3: Art and Design - Printmaking
• KS3: Art and Design - Materials and Techniques

About This Topic

Collagraphy introduces students to printmaking by constructing plates from everyday textured materials such as cardboard, string, fabric scraps, and natural found objects. These plates are coated with glue or varnish, inked, and pressed to transfer varied surfaces onto paper, creating prints rich in depth and tactile quality. At Year 7, this builds skills in material selection and experimentation, directly supporting KS3 standards in printmaking and materials techniques.

Students explore how raised, recessed, and layered elements produce distinct effects, from bold ridges to subtle imprints. This topic encourages design thinking as they plan plates to convey themes like landscapes or patterns, while comparing collagraphy's organic textures to the cleaner lines of relief printing. Such comparisons sharpen critical observation and vocabulary for visual analysis.

Active learning thrives here because students physically manipulate materials to predict and test texture outcomes. Hands-on plate-building and iterative printing sessions make abstract concepts concrete, foster creativity through trial and error, and build confidence in producing multiples for display or portfolios.

Key Questions

1. Explain how different materials on a collagraph plate create varied textures in a print.
2. Design a collagraph plate that incorporates a range of tactile surfaces.
3. Compare the visual effects of collagraphy with traditional relief printing.

Learning Objectives

• Explain how different material textures on a collagraph plate create varied visual and tactile qualities in a print.
• Design a collagraph plate incorporating at least three distinct textured surfaces to convey a specific theme.
• Compare and contrast the visual outcomes of collagraphy prints with those produced by a traditional relief printing method, identifying key differences in line quality and texture.
• Critique the effectiveness of a collagraph plate design in relation to its intended visual outcome, justifying material choices.

Before You Start

Introduction to Texture in Art

Why: Students need a foundational understanding of visual and tactile texture to effectively select and apply materials for collagraphy.

Basic Drawing and Design Principles

Why: Students should have experience with planning a visual composition to effectively design their collagraph plates.

Key Vocabulary

Collagraph plate	A printing plate constructed from various materials glued or adhered to a rigid surface, designed to create texture for printing.
Texture	The surface quality of an artwork that can be felt or seen, referring to how rough, smooth, bumpy, or soft it appears or feels.
Ink application	The method used to apply ink to the collagraph plate, which can involve rolling ink over the surface or wiping it into recessed areas.
Impression	The mark or image transferred from the printing plate to the paper, showing the textures and forms created on the plate.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

All textures produce the same print effect.

What to Teach Instead

Textures vary by height, density, and flexibility; raised elements create bold lines, while flat ones yield subtle tones. Active material sampling stations let students experiment directly, revealing differences through side-by-side prints and peer comparisons.

Common Misconception

Collagraphy is just like lino or woodcut relief printing.

What to Teach Instead

Collagraphy uses mixed glued materials for organic, unpredictable textures, unlike the carved uniformity of relief prints. Group design challenges highlight these contrasts as students build and print both types, discussing visual outcomes in critiques.

Common Misconception

More materials always make a better plate.

What to Teach Instead

Overloading leads to muddy prints; balance and contrast matter most. Iterative pair-building with quick test prints teaches restraint, as students refine plates based on tangible results.

Active Learning Ideas

Stations Rotation: Texture Sampling

Prepare stations with materials like corrugated card, lace, leaves, and twine. Students test gluing samples to small card bases, ink them lightly, and print onto scrap paper. Rotate every 10 minutes, noting which textures transfer best and why.

45 min·Small Groups

Pairs: Themed Plate Design

Pairs sketch a simple motif, such as a cityscape or animal. They select and layer 5-7 textures to match, build the plate, and produce 3 prints each. Pairs swap one print to critique surface variety.

50 min·Pairs

Whole Class: Printing Marathon

Students bring completed plates to central tables with ink rollers and presses. Run a production line: one inks, one prints, one cleans. Produce class set of prints for a hallway gallery.

40 min·Whole Class

Individual: Texture Journal

Each student documents their plate construction with photos or sketches, annotating material choices and predicted effects. After printing, add final prints with reflections on surprises.

30 min·Individual

Real-World Connections

• Printmakers in fine art studios, such as those creating limited edition works, use collagraphy to achieve unique painterly effects and rich surface qualities not possible with other methods.
• Textile designers might use collagraphy principles to experiment with surface patterns and textures before translating them into fabric designs, exploring how different materials create visual depth.
• Illustrators creating children's books sometimes employ collagraphy for its distinctive, tactile aesthetic, giving their characters and settings a unique visual character.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Ask students to hold up their partially completed collagraph plates. Prompt: 'Point to one material you've used and explain what kind of mark or texture you predict it will make on the print. Why?'

Discussion Prompt

Display a student's collagraph print alongside a simple relief print (e.g., lino cut). Ask: 'What are two visual differences you observe between these two prints? How did the plate construction contribute to these differences?'

Exit Ticket

Students write on an index card: 'One material I added to my plate was ______, and I expect it to create a ______ (e.g., rough, smooth, raised) texture because ______.'

Frequently Asked Questions

What everyday materials work best for Year 7 collagraph plates?

Cardboard scraps, string, fabric offcuts, dried pasta, leaves, and bubble wrap provide diverse textures without cost. Encourage foraging in the school grounds for natural items to spark creativity. Varnish or PVA glue seals plates effectively; test ink adhesion first to avoid smudging. This approach keeps lessons accessible and ties into sustainable art practices.

How does active learning benefit collagraphy lessons?

Active approaches like hands-on plate construction and group printing rotations make texture concepts immediate and sensory. Students predict outcomes, test materials, and adjust in real time, deepening understanding through doing rather than watching demos. Collaborative critiques build language for analysis, while producing multiples reinforces the value of printmaking editions. These methods boost engagement and retention in KS3 art.

How can students compare collagraphy to relief printing?

Set side-by-side tasks: one group carves foam for relief, another builds collagraph plates on the same theme. Print both and display for analysis, noting collagraphy's softer, layered effects versus relief's sharp edges. Guided questions prompt discussion on material impact, aligning with key standards in techniques comparison.

What assessment strategies fit collagraphy projects?

Use rubrics for design planning (intent and material choice), technical skill (plate construction and clean printing), and reflection (texture explanations). Peer feedback on print quality and a final portfolio page with iterations show progress. Link to key questions by requiring written comparisons to other prints.