School’s engagement workshops at Bellshill Academy & Lawmuir Primary School, led by artists Jasmine Holt and Leah McDonald  

In February, NL Arts Development has been delighted to offer North Lanarkshire school pupils free, hands-on workshops exploring the wonderful medium of printmaking in a more sustainable way. These artist-led sessions have been designed to inspire pupils through creative learning and have helped pupils develop artistic, problem solving and communication skills whilst also providing positive experiences and examples of creative pathways to further study and work.  The workshops were also devised to creatively engage young people in climate change questions, giving young people a voice to speak out about issues important to them. Taking a more sustainable DIY approach, pupils experienced first-hand how reusing and recycling domestic materials, like pizza and tetra-pac packaging, make excellent ‘printmaking plates’ and produce fabulous results. 

Q: What did you learn from the workshop? 

Collagraphy –  

“At the collagraphy printing workshop, I learned of a new technique/method and also that it’s okay for things not to go exactly as you want”. 

“It taught me that art doesn’t always go the way you expect or want it to go, as not all the detail you put into the print comes out. It has shown me that art isn’t about perfection or even skill, it’s about enjoyment of a process”.  

“I learned a bunch of interesting things! I learned how to create prints with a method I’ve never heard before, so, it was quite fun to learn something new! :)” 

Tetrapac printing – 

“I learned dry point etching which required cut-out work with a cutting knife, aswell as stamping out the prepared plate onto a sheet of paper for our final result. I enjoyed the workshop as it was something new and relaxing”. 

“I learned that you don’t need to use expensive materials to make art”. 

“It was good to see the different techniques used outside of the stereotypical Lino printing and screen printing methods that we’ve done in class, as well as learning that different day to day materials can be used to cut down on cost” 

Q: How has participating in this workshop had an impact on your portfolio development? 

Collagraphy – 

“It has helped develop my folio since I was short on stuff prior to my final. 

(but I think paint pens could be used in place of the rolling things for detailed sections and people who don’t like working with paint because it’s too messy)” 

“I don’t think I’ll use this for my portfolio, even though the prints were amazing. I loved learning how to do collagraphy and would be so excited if they bring it back again”. 

Tetrapac printing – 

“I found that it could be used for my sheet 1 in my expressive folio”. 

“The workshop allowed me to learn a new skill for my practical work, as well as develop a piece to use on my folio”. 

“This workshop has made my schoolwork stand out and be unique compared to other people’s and I will be adding this art work to my final folio”. 

News Flash! 

AND going forward, we are starting a brand NEW Saturday Print Club for young people (12-16 years), at Bellshill Cultural Centre 10.30am-12.45pm weekly. Starting 29th August.