The children had done several prints different colours page. When these were dry they chose the best print as a base, then they ripped pieces off the other prints and glues then onto the base print. They had to match the features on the prints so the integrity of the print was not changed.
The compositions that worked the best were the ones using contrasting colours.
Glue sticks were sufficient to stick down the paper, were easy for children to handle, no caused no mess.
Tip to watch out for: make sure the children do not try and cover the whole base print with the ripped prints. (Some tried to do this and it looked very messy).
Watching the concentration on the children’s faces as they matched up the patterns and lines, then the delight as they stepped back and looked at their creation was delightful.
We got a lot of artwork out of the simple PVA and shellac templates (black and white prints, plain colour prints on coloured paper, plain colour prints on white paper, multi coloured prints on white paper and the ripped print creations). The templates have now been mounted and become a work of art too.
For further reference we could have printed on tissue paper and ripped and scrunched that onto a base print for a different effect.
Key competency:
Thinking: the children became thinkers, they got a picture in their head of what they wanted their ripped compositions to be, and they problem solved and truly created their artwork without interference or suggestions from me.
They have become Artists.
