This activity is developed for children ages 8 and above. Download and print this activity guide for easy reference.
For children ages 3 and above and Small Frye: Story, Drama, Art - Celebrating Family participants in February, download this activity guide.
GET INSPIRED
Have you ever printed a portrait of a loved one? A portrait is a representation of a real or imagined person, sometimes showing mostly the head and shoulders while other times showing the entire body. For the works Birmingham (left), (center), and (right) in the Frye’s collection, artist Toyin Ojih Odutola created prints based on photographs she took of her brother. A print is an image or design that is transferred from a different surface. The process of making a print is called printmaking. In the video below we’ll explore Ojih Odutola’s prints, before learning how to make a portrait in the form of a print!
To see more artworks by Toyin Ojih Odutola, check out her website.
There are many different types of printmaking techniques. One benefit of printmaking is that you can easily create multiples of the same image. Ojih Odutola used a printmaking process called lithography to create the three Birmingham images. The process is quite complex and takes a lot of steps: watch this video for an example of lithograph printing.
MAKE SOME ART
Did you know you can also make a print at home without all the traditional printmaking tools and materials? Let’s make a collagraph print! A collagraph is a print made from a collage with materials or cut-outs of different textures. We’ll be creating a collage first before printing.
Here is a list of materials you will need to make a print:
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A flat-headed bristle brush or a small paint roller
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Tempera paint
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A container for the paint
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A heavier and sturdier paper that is still easy to cut, such as a manila folder or a cereal box (we recommend using at least an 8” x 10” surface as your base)
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Paper to print on, such as construction paper, newspaper, or a brown paper bag
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Scissors
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Glue or a glue stick
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Optional: hot beverage cup sleeves, corrugated paper, bubble wrap
Just like Ojih Odutola, think of a loved one in your family of whom you would like to create a portrait. Feel free to use a photograph of this person as a reference, or maybe ask this family member to be your model. Carefully observe the lines, shapes, and other details you need in order to create a collage portrait. Once your collage is dry, it’s time to print!
Watch the video below for a demonstration:
SHARE YOUR WORK
How many prints did you make? We hope you enjoyed printing portraits! Please share your prints with us on social media using the hashtag #FryefromHome.
Lynn Chou
Manager of Youth and School Programs