Tibetan-Inspired Prayer Flag Printing
Prayer flags have a long history of bringing health, good fortune, and blessings upon a specific place. In this class we will be creating our own prayer flags with imagery that is relevant to our own lives. Students will also learn a brief history relief printmaking in eastern and western traditions. We will cover the basics of proper carving techniques and how to successfully translate an image into a block, or stamp. Design, detail, contrast, and texture will be important parts of creating our prayer flag imagery. After designing and carving our own blocks, we will discuss different printing techniques onto paper and fabric to achieve different visual results. Each participant will complete one block and print their design several times. If time allows and participants are interested, we will print enough prayer flags for everyone in the class to exchange, and then go home with a complete set of flags!
Step one: Drawing. create 3 full size drawings either square (5 1/2 x 5 1/2) or rectangular (5 1/2 wide x 6 1/2 high) NOT horizontal! These drawings are based on one of the concepts of Compassion, Peace , Strength, or Wisdom.
Show these to the teacher and choose one to carve.
Step two: Transferring. You are going to transfer your drawing to the block by covering the back with charcoal, centering the drawing on the block and tracing the design. I would recommend that you fill in the areas that you want to be white so that you know what to carve away. Remove the drawing wipe away the dust and your image will remain.
Step Three: Carving. You will use a bench hook that will hold the work area in place for you. The block rests against the lip and you put BOTH hands on the handle of the blade to avoid cutting yourself. If you are seen holding the block with your hand and cutting you will loose cutting privileges for at least 10 minutes. There are several blades contained in the handle of the blades, depending on how much material you want to remove. You only need to carve deep enough to be lower than the surface . DO NOT carve through the block!
Step Four: Inking.
Prayer flags have a long history of bringing health, good fortune, and blessings upon a specific place. In this class we will be creating our own prayer flags with imagery that is relevant to our own lives. Students will also learn a brief history relief printmaking in eastern and western traditions. We will cover the basics of proper carving techniques and how to successfully translate an image into a block, or stamp. Design, detail, contrast, and texture will be important parts of creating our prayer flag imagery. After designing and carving our own blocks, we will discuss different printing techniques onto paper and fabric to achieve different visual results. Each participant will complete one block and print their design several times. If time allows and participants are interested, we will print enough prayer flags for everyone in the class to exchange, and then go home with a complete set of flags!
Step one: Drawing. create 3 full size drawings either square (5 1/2 x 5 1/2) or rectangular (5 1/2 wide x 6 1/2 high) NOT horizontal! These drawings are based on one of the concepts of Compassion, Peace , Strength, or Wisdom.
Show these to the teacher and choose one to carve.
Step two: Transferring. You are going to transfer your drawing to the block by covering the back with charcoal, centering the drawing on the block and tracing the design. I would recommend that you fill in the areas that you want to be white so that you know what to carve away. Remove the drawing wipe away the dust and your image will remain.
Step Three: Carving. You will use a bench hook that will hold the work area in place for you. The block rests against the lip and you put BOTH hands on the handle of the blade to avoid cutting yourself. If you are seen holding the block with your hand and cutting you will loose cutting privileges for at least 10 minutes. There are several blades contained in the handle of the blades, depending on how much material you want to remove. You only need to carve deep enough to be lower than the surface . DO NOT carve through the block!
Step Four: Inking.