Welcome back to the Art Round-Up, where I look at different school art projects! 8 White has just wrapped up their Snowflake Print Designs–take a look at them in the hallways outside the main office if you haven’t seen them yet.

“This project is inspired by the time of year,” Ms. Malinowski, the 8th grade art teacher, says. “We started it right before holiday break, so we tried to focus on the winter months.” She explains how this project actually also has to do with what the students have learned in math class earlier in the year; understanding of rotation, reflection, and symmetry are all used in making the snowflake prints, which shows the similarities between art and math.

Students make their Snowflake Print Designs by first using water-based inks on Styrofoam to print snowflake shapes, then gluing them onto colored construction paper. They would use reference pictures of other snowflakes to help create their own design.

This form of art is called relief printmaking. According to Ms. Malinowski, “it’s not as easy as it looks,” because it’s easy to over-ink and takes time to master the process. However, after you see the result, it’s also rewarding. “I feel like when you go into the hall and look at the artwork, you can see the choices the students made with color and organization. No two art projects are alike,” she says. Just like real snowflakes, the projects are unique and creative, showcasing both the student’s talents and their individuality.

In Ms. Malinowski’s words, “No matter the student's ability level, I think everyone did a great job.” After seeing the Snowflake Print Designs in the hallway, I couldn’t agree more! Not only is this project festive and fun, but it’s also great for all students, even those who don’t think they’re very good at art. Who said snowflakes can’t have imperfections, anyway?

I’ll see you next time with another art project!