Paint Mixing and Printmaking

Recently, children have explored paint mixing processes and created their own personal palettes that represent colors they enjoy. These personal palettes have since been used for printmaking in the classroom.

Exploring color through the experience of mixing paint is something that children have participated in for years. During these experiences, we often utilize resources such as a color wheel to support our learning and understanding of the transformation process. We also intentionally incorporate vocabulary related to the work into our discussions and observations as we test, experiment, and discover. 
We are able to observe how past experiences and their ever expanding knowledge of color theory supports the complexity of the work this year in Tucker Room. 

Creating palettes inspired by ourselves

Cate mixes colors to create a palette that represents the colors of her outfit. 

Saul's first palette was also inspired by his clothing. 

Creating palettes based on personal preferences 

Frances creates a palette that represents her vision of "beautiful colors". 

To create purple, Frannie referred to the color wheel to determine that she would need a combination of blue and red to begin. 

I love this color.
I did red, and blue, but it's a little bit of purple that I can't see (too dark).
I should change it with more red and blue.
​And I need to change it lighter. So white. - Frannie


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​Before beginning the mixing process, Frannie browsed paint samples to find colors that she felt best represented some of her favorites.
All beautiful colors. - Frances

Frances felt confident mixing a variety of pink hues which she has created many times in the past. 
Pink is just easy because it's red and white.
I put a lot of red... and less white. 

Frannie noted the transformation of color as she experimented with varying amounts of red and white paint. 
I think I need a little more white because it's too red. 
Yep (mixing in additional white paint),
​I see the pink coming in! It's getting the color I want. 

Our work and decision making process is also often inspired by each other

​Which palette do you feel best represents your child? Did you guess correctly?

Cate

Finlay

Hugh

Jack

Jade

Lily

Lucas

Luke

Michael

Remy

Saully

Wilder

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Printmaking

Since mixing our own paint palettes, we have explored a few different types of printmaking techniques and have had the opportunity to incorporate and utilize our paints into this work. 

Dendritic Printing

Symmetrical Prints

Monoprints

Here are just a few examples of the MANY prints made over the past few days.

The children have very thoughtfully decided that these gorgeous prints would make the perfect surprise gifts for their family members.

​When you receive your gift in the near future, we hope that you can talk to your child about their process and the work that went into its creation!