Invented as a method for printing designs on textiles in ancient China, the oldest form of relief printmaking, the woodcut is still very much alive today, with advancements in materials now making relief printmaking a fascinating technique for all ages to explore. From Styrofoam printing blocks to linoleum blocks to woodblocks, students will explore relief printmaking through manageable, age-appropriate materials in an effort to gain understanding of this ancient process. By working reductively into a block, students learn to “see” backwards and in reverse, expanding visualization and perceptive abilities. Completed blocks are inked and printed using a hand-cranked printing press.