Mixed media printing: combining traditional and modern methods
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can create a mixed media print that combines traditional printmaking techniques with digital overlays.
Key learning points
- Mixed media printing integrates traditional methods (e.g. monoprint, collagraph) with modern digital techniques.
- Printmaking benefits from both traditional techniques and digital edits through digital overlays and refinement.
- Mixed media approaches encourage creativity, problem-solving, and new ways of working.
Keywords
Monoprint - a unique print made by drawing or inking on a surface and pressing onto paper
Collagraph - a print created using a textured collage plate
Digital overlay - adding computer-generated imagery or text onto a traditional print
Mixed media - combining more than one artistic medium within a single artwork
Common misconception
Digital tools replace traditional printmaking.
Digital tools enhance traditional methods by expanding creative possibilities - neither replaces the other.
Teacher tip
Encourage experimentation - mistakes often lead to creative breakthroughs. Remind pupils that layering and combining techniques is about trial, refinement, and risk-taking, not just a polished final outcome.
Equipment
Printing inks, rollers, roller tray. Paper, card. Collage materials (fabric, textured card, string). Computer digital art software. Scanner or camera for digitising prints. Scissors, glue.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the term to its definition.
Q2.What is the first step of exploring traditional prints and digitising them?
Q3.What is a good object to use for a monoprint?
Q4.Which statement best explains how a collagraph is made?
Q5.How can digital overlays enhance traditional prints?
Q6.How does mixed media printing expand creative possibilities for artists?
To help you plan your 11 art and design lesson on: Mixed media printing: combining traditional and modern methods, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 art and design lesson on: Mixed media printing: combining traditional and modern methods, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 art and design lessons from the Graphic communication unit, dive into the full secondary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.