Collagraphy: Texture Prints

Active learning transforms collagraphy from a concept into a tactile, memorable experience. Students engage with texture directly, making abstract ideas about relief and intaglio concrete through hands-on material sampling and iterative plate building.

• Year 7
• Art and Design
• 4 activities
• 30 min–50 min

Learning Objectives

1. Explain how different material textures on a collagraph plate create varied visual and tactile qualities in a print.
2. Design a collagraph plate incorporating at least three distinct textured surfaces to convey a specific theme.
3. 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.
4. Critique the effectiveness of a collagraph plate design in relation to its intended visual outcome, justifying material choices.

Stations Rotation

⏱ 45 min·Small Groups

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.

Prepare & details

Explain how different materials on a collagraph plate create varied textures in a print.

Facilitation Tip: During Station Rotation: Texture Sampling, set a timer for 3-minute rotations to keep energy high and prevent overhandling of delicate materials like fabric scraps.

Setup: Tables/desks arranged in 4-6 distinct stations around room

Materials: Station instruction cards, Different materials per station, Rotation timer

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Stations Rotation

⏱ 50 min·Pairs

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.

Prepare & details

Design a collagraph plate that incorporates a range of tactile surfaces.

Setup: Tables/desks arranged in 4-6 distinct stations around room

Materials: Station instruction cards, Different materials per station, Rotation timer

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Stations Rotation

⏱ 40 min·Whole Class

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.

Prepare & details

Compare the visual effects of collagraphy with traditional relief printing.

Setup: Tables/desks arranged in 4-6 distinct stations around room

Materials: Station instruction cards, Different materials per station, Rotation timer

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Stations Rotation

⏱ 30 min·Individual

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.

Prepare & details

Explain how different materials on a collagraph plate create varied textures in a print.

Setup: Tables/desks arranged in 4-6 distinct stations around room

Materials: Station instruction cards, Different materials per station, Rotation timer

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Teaching This Topic

Teach collagraphy as a process of controlled experimentation rather than precision crafting. Focus on guiding students to notice cause and effect between material properties and print outcomes, using quick test prints to build intuition. Avoid over-directing; let mistakes become learning moments through reflective discussion after printing.

What to Expect

Students will confidently select and arrange materials to create intentional textures, demonstrate safe use of tools and inks, and critically evaluate how plate construction affects print quality. Success looks like varied, deliberate marks on prints that reflect informed choices.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Station Rotation: Texture Sampling, watch for students assuming all textures produce the same print effect.

What to Teach Instead

Have students make two prints side by side from a raised texture (like corrugated cardboard) and a flat one (like sanded wood). Ask them to describe the differences in line weight and tone before moving on.

Common Misconception

During Pairs: Themed Plate Design, watch for students treating collagraphy like lino or woodcut relief printing.

What to Teach Instead

Provide both a collagraph plate and a simple lino cut for students to compare before designing. Ask them to list two ways their collagraph plate will behave differently under pressure than the lino.

Common Misconception

During Whole Class: Printing Marathon, watch for students believing more materials always make a better plate.

What to Teach Instead

Before inking, have students hold their plates up to the light and point out areas where textures overlap. Ask them to predict which areas might muddy their prints and adjust by removing or isolating textures.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

After Station Rotation: Texture Sampling, 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

During Pairs: Themed Plate Design, 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

After Whole Class: Printing Marathon, 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 ______.'

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge: Students create a second print using only three materials, aiming for maximum contrast in texture and tone.
• Scaffolding: Provide pre-cut cardboard strips and a selection of textures (e.g., mesh, lace, sandpaper) to reduce decision fatigue for hesitant students.
• Deeper exploration: Introduce viscosity printing by thinning ink with different mediums to see how texture interacts with ink flow.

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.