Lead by Elke Reva Sudin

Tired of seeing Stars of David? The original Jewish symbols were a menorah, lulav & etrog, and the Cohan’s hands. In this workshop you will learn to create your own Jewish symbol and get to replicate it with a DIY blockprinting technique. Part graphic design, part printmaking, part recreating history. No experience necessary.

Supplies:
– 100+ stryrofoam plates
– BBQ skewers (the cheap wood sticks)
– Black/colors block printing ink
– 3-5 block printing rollers
– Recycled cardboard/boxes to print on
– paper towels
– bowls of water
– paper and pencils, erasers

Instructions: Designing your logo

1. Know your history!

Original Jewish symbols: lulav & estrog, menorah, Cohen hands, Bait Hamigdush (show pillars in front and curved inside

Symbols on coins

  • Goblet
  • Plants
  • Paleo Hebrew
  • Shofar
  • Megillah
  • 7 grains of Israel
  • 3 branched menorah
    Palm tree showing lulav
    Grape leaf
    Burning bush
  • Ritual items: Tallit, Tefillin

Tip: Think about what is an authentic item to our identity

  • The design (techniques to try)
    Center image with text and design around
    Draw a simplified version of two concepts that are important to you. See if you can combine them in a way that is clever.
  • Make a really simple shape. Overlap another slightly more complicated shape. Now fit the themes/words you are interested in on top.
  • Think of an object, a natural element, a color, a pattern. Think of what aspect of Judaism that is relevant to you it reminds you of. Now simplify that image. Simply again.
  • Draw in pencil, erase. It helps to fill your paper with boxes so that when you work on your different designs that each one is in a box and keeps you organized.

When you have a design you like make a larger version of it, at least 3×3 inches and no bigger than the flat area of the styrofoam plate.

Block printing process

  • Take a plate. Draw out your design BACKWARDS. (Otherwise your print will come out backwards!)
  • Carve the design out so there is a thick difference between the plate and your design. You can poke holes in it if needed though it might start making your plate fall apart.
  • Go to the inking staton. Squirt a little ink out on to your plate, just enough so then when rolled out it will cover your design with a thin layer.
  • Roll the roller over your inked design and then make your print!
  • Enjoy!