Basic 8 · Creative Arts and Design · Drawing
Digital Drawing, Printmaking Techniques and Creating a Musical Piece
In this topic you will use digital tools for freehand and outline drawing, shading and colouring, experiment with printmaking techniques to make visual artworks, and design a musical piece in a Ghanaian genre.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Use digital drawing tools to create a design from a Ghanaian motif
- Describe and use printmaking techniques
- Create a short musical piece in a Ghanaian genre that reflects culture
What you already know
- Manual and digital tools, freehand drawing and motifs
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
Lesson 1
- Strand
- Design
- Sub-strand
- Drawing
- Indicator
- B8.1.2.1.2 – Demonstrate skills in using available digital tools, materials and techniques for freehand and outline drawing, shading and coloring to create designs from lines simple shapes and forms
Introduction
On a tablet, an artist can draw, erase, colour and resize a design in minutes. Digital drawing is now used for posters, animation, fashion and textile design.
1. Features of a Drawing Application
| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
| brush or pencil tool | drawing freehand lines |
| shape tools | drawing circles, rectangles and lines accurately |
| eraser | removing parts of the drawing |
| colour picker and fill | choosing and filling colours |
| line width setting | changing thickness of lines |
| undo and redo | reversing or repeating actions |
| layers | working on separate parts without affecting others |
| zoom | enlarging the view for detail |
2. Steps in Digital Drawing
- Study a printed Ghanaian motif and note its lines, shapes and repeats.
- Open the drawing application and create a new page.
- On the first layer, draw a light freehand outline with the stylus.
- On a new layer, add clean outlines with the line tool.
- On another layer, add shading using a soft brush with low opacity.
- Fill areas with colour and adjust them until they look balanced.
- Save the file with a clear name and export it as an image.
3. Advantages and Challenges
Digital drawing allows easy correction, unlimited colours, layers and quick sharing. However, it requires devices, electricity and practice. Some learners find it harder to control lines on a smooth screen at first. Regular practice with the stylus improves control.
4. Digital Etiquette
When using digital tools, save work regularly, do not copy other artists' work and claim it as your own, and respect shared devices by closing apps and charging them after use. Credit any images you use as references.
New words
- layer
- A separate level of a digital drawing.
- opacity
- How transparent or solid a colour is.
- export
- To save a digital file in a format for sharing.
- undo
- To reverse the last action.
Summary
- Drawing applications provide brush, shape, eraser, fill, layer and undo tools.
- Digital drawing follows steps from light outline to clean lines, shading and colour on separate layers.
- It offers easy correction and sharing but needs devices, power and practice.
Class activity: Digital Motif Design
- Use a tablet and stylus to draw a design inspired by a Ghanaian motif.
- Use at least three layers for outline, shading and colour.
- Display your design and explain the tools you used.
You need: Tablet with offline drawing application, Stylus, Printed Ghanaian motif reference
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. The tool that reverses your last action is…
- A. undo
- B. fill
- C. zoom
- D. layer
Show answer
Answer: undoReverse.2. Working on separate parts of a drawing without affecting others is done with…
- A. layers
- B. erasers
- C. colour pickers
- D. zoom
Show answer
Answer: layersSeparate levels.3. You should save digital work regularly.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueAvoid loss.4. How transparent or solid a colour is, is its ______.
Show answer
Answer: opacityTransparency.5. List four tools in a drawing application and their uses.
Show answer
Answer: Brush: draw lines; eraser: remove; fill: add colour; layers: separate parts.Any four.6. Why is it wrong to copy another artist's digital work and claim it?
Show answer
Answer: It is dishonest and violates the artist's rights; credit must be given.Ethics.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- Visual Arts
- Sub-strand
- Media and Techniques
- Indicator
- B8.2.1.1.2 – Experiment by using techniques in print making to generate own ideas and make visual artworks
Introduction
Adinkra cloth, printed T-shirts and school crests on uniforms are all made by printmaking, the art of transferring an image from a surface to another.
1. What Is Printmaking?
Printmaking: Making images by transferring ink or paint from a prepared surface (the block, plate or stencil) onto paper, cloth or another material.
Printmaking allows the same design to be reproduced many times. Each copy is called a print.
2. Printmaking Techniques
| Technique | How it works | Example |
|---|---|---|
| relief printing | the raised parts of a block are inked and pressed | adinkra stamps from calabash, yam or potato prints, lino cuts |
| stencil printing | ink is pushed through holes cut in a stencil | signboards, T-shirts |
| screen printing | ink is pressed through a fine mesh with a blocked-out design | T-shirts, posters |
| mono printing | a single print is taken from a painted surface | art prints |
| block printing | a carved block is repeated across cloth | textile prints |
| found-object printing | leaves, bottle tops and other objects are inked and pressed | school art |
3. Making a Relief Print
- Draw a simple motif on a cut yam, potato or soft block.
- Carefully cut away the background so the motif stands up (relief).
- Apply fabric paint evenly to the raised surface.
- Press the stamp firmly onto plain cotton cloth.
- Lift it straight up and repeat to form a pattern.
- Allow the print to dry and iron it if using fabric paint.
Safety: Always cut away from your body and let the teacher help with sharp knives.
4. Making a Stencil Print
Cut a design from card to make a stencil. Place it on paper or cloth, hold it firmly and dab paint through the holes with a sponge. Lift the stencil carefully. Stencils are good for lettering and repeated shapes.
New words
- A copy made by printmaking.
- relief print
- A print made from raised parts of a block.
- stencil
- A sheet with holes for printing a design.
- registration
- Placing prints accurately in a repeat.
Summary
- Printmaking transfers ink from a block, stencil or screen onto a surface.
- Techniques include relief, stencil, screen, mono, block and found-object printing.
- Relief and stencil prints can be made in class with simple materials.
Class activity: Yam Stamp Print
- Carve a motif into a yam stamp with the teacher's guidance.
- Print a repeat pattern on plain cotton cloth with fabric paint.
- Display and evaluate the prints.
You need: Carved yam stamp, Fabric paint, Plain cotton cloth
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Adinkra cloth is made mainly by…
- A. relief printing
- B. screen printing
- C. weaving
- D. batik
Show answer
Answer: relief printingStamps.2. Ink pushed through a fine mesh is…
- A. screen printing
- B. mono printing
- C. relief printing
- D. weaving
Show answer
Answer: screen printingMesh.3. A stencil has holes through which paint is applied.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueCut design.4. A copy made by printmaking is a ______.
Show answer
Answer: printReproduction.5. Describe the steps in making a relief print.
Show answer
Answer: Draw a motif on a block, cut away the background, ink the raised part, press on cloth, repeat and dry.Steps.6. Explain one advantage of printmaking over drawing each design by hand.
Show answer
Answer: The same design can be reproduced many times quickly and consistently.Reproduction.
Lesson 3
- Strand
- Performing Arts (Music)
- Sub-strand
- Creative and Aesthetic Expression
- Indicator
- B8.2.2.2.4 – Design and produce own musical genre that reflect the history and cultures physical and social environment
Introduction
Highlife, hiplife, Adowa, Agbadza and Kpanlogo are Ghanaian musical genres. Each reflects the history, culture and environment of its people.
1. What Is a Musical Genre?
Musical genre: A category of music with shared features of rhythm, instruments, style and purpose.
| Genre | Origin | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Adowa | Akan | atumpan drums, bell, graceful songs for funerals and festivals |
| Agbadza | Ewe | call-and-response songs, bells and drums, originally a war dance |
| Kpanlogo | Ga | tall drums, lively rhythms, recreational |
| Bamaya | Dagomba | lunga and gungon drums, harvest themes |
| highlife | coastal towns, early 20th century | guitars, horns, dance rhythms, songs about life |
| hiplife | Accra, 1990s | rap in Ghanaian languages over highlife and hip-hop beats |
2. Researching a Genre
Choose a genre from your community or from another part of Ghana. Find out where it comes from, which instruments are used, the typical rhythm, the themes of the songs and the occasions where it is performed. Listening to recordings and asking elders are good research methods.
3. Creating Your Piece
- Choose the genre and a theme, such as unity, the environment or a festival.
- Create a basic rhythm pattern on the atumpan or another drum.
- Add a steady time line on wooden clappers or a bell.
- Write short lyrics and a call-and-response chorus.
- Arrange an introduction, verses, chorus and ending.
- Rehearse and perform for the class.
4. Reflecting Culture and Environment
Your piece should reflect the culture it comes from. A Bamaya-style piece may mention rain and harvest; a highlife-style piece may tell a story about city life; an Agbadza-style piece may honour ancestors. Using local language, proverbs and instruments strengthens the cultural link.
New words
- genre
- A category of music.
- time line
- The steady pattern played by a bell or clappers.
- lyrics
- The words of a song.
- arrangement
- The way parts of a piece are organised.
Summary
- Ghanaian genres include Adowa, Agbadza, Kpanlogo, Bamaya, highlife and hiplife.
- Researching a genre involves its origin, instruments, rhythms, themes and occasions.
- A new piece can be created with rhythm, a time line, lyrics and a clear arrangement that reflects culture.
Class activity: Genre Composition
- Research one Ghanaian genre.
- Create and rehearse a short piece in that style.
- Perform it and explain how it reflects culture.
You need: Atumpan drum, Wooden clappers, Printed music notation cards
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Hiplife started in the…
- A. 1990s
- B. 1700s
- C. 1800s
- D. 1950s only
Show answer
Answer: 1990sAccra.2. Agbadza is a genre of the…
- A. Ewe
- B. Ga
- C. Dagomba
- D. Akan
Show answer
Answer: EweVolta Region.3. Highlife often uses guitars and horns.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueBand music.4. The words of a song are its ______.
Show answer
Answer: lyricsSong text.5. Name three Ghanaian musical genres and their origins.
Show answer
Answer: Adowa: Akan; Kpanlogo: Ga; Bamaya: Dagomba (or highlife, hiplife, Agbadza).Any three.6. How can a new piece reflect the culture of its genre?
Show answer
Answer: By using the genre's instruments, rhythms, language, proverbs and themes linked to its people's life.Cultural features.
Homework
- Listen to two songs from different Ghanaian genres and compare their instruments and themes.