Printmaking styles inspired the Art class to do the Miami Valley Person of the Year project. The Miami Valley Person of the Year Project was a joined project between History and Art class. In art, we learned that certain forms of prints can be colored in after the print. In class, we also learned how to make print stencils. The first step to the project, was to create a print on the person you chose for History. Secondly, trace their face on linoleum. Thirdly, carve their face out with cutting tools, and dress the trace in ink. Finally, print the face on the template of the Miami Valley cover. For my piece, I used the ink to create great emphasize out of my print. The print was a silhouette of my Person of the Year (Paul Laurence Dunbar). I carved in curved lines that filled the silhouette, and then the ink brought out color in the face. The mix between linoleum and ink created great empathize.

 

      The requirements of the project were there to keep the class on topic and focused on their work. The biggest challenge while completing this project was the carving. Because it was time consuming and also I wanted it to look neat. I overcame this challenge by pacing myself through the project. Another successful moment was when I printed my print and it looked amazing. Biggest thing I learned about during this project is linoleum. Linoleum is a sum what spongy like material, which you can carve with certain tools. Then to make a print with linoleum you take a brayer cover it with ink. Then place a piece of paper on the inked linoleum, and add pressure. Finally your print should appear on the paper.

 

      There was great growth between my artifacts; the first draft in the sketchbook of my print design, and the Final print with linoleum and ink. My final print showed great texture and produced an abstract feel because the texture was spongy like and rigid, while the print was a silhouette of my Person of the Year; which gave the print an abstract feel. Unlike my sketchbook design, was dull and didn’t include any sense of unity between the work and the viewer. Without Creativity my sketchbook wouldn’t have evolved into my final linoleum print. I turned my “grey” and plain sketchbook design into a print that had a wavy ink pattern of a silhouette of Paul Laurence Dunbar; Creativity fueled this change among my simple design to the final print.

 

      While completing this assignment I have learned about a different art style and how to carve in an artistic style. These skills I have obtained can help me as a student, because I can now display a different art style on other art projects. The DRSS quality I represented the most in this process is Creativity. I would define Creativity as making something that is abnormal and imaginative; for example, how I made my print a silhouette instead of a portrait. Creativity was demonstrated during this process by me creating a piece of work that was unique among the classroom. Instead of me making a print with a body and face, I made a print with the silhouette of my Miami Valley person. Creativity was enhanced when I chose to stray away from the usual and create my print as a silhouette of my person rather than make my print a portrait of my person. I also demonstrated Creativity when I carved out my print with a cool wavy design.