- Definition
Linoleum is a strong, flexible material, like a thick mat, made from natural stuff like tree sap and cork. You can carve designs into it to make stamps for printing pictures.
To print a picture of a star, an artist carves away the area around the star shape on a linoleum block.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Using linoleum for printmaking is like carving a design into a giant, firm eraser to make a stamp.
Ask your child: If you made a stamp, what parts would you carve away to leave your picture?
Common mix-up: Kids might think you just draw on linoleum like it's paper. The key is that you carve away parts of the surface to create a stamp, and the raised parts make the print.
Examples
- After carving, ink is rolled onto the raised parts of the linoleum block before pressing it onto paper.
- The final print is a mirror image of the design that was carved into the linoleum.
linoleum is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
