Perfect Printing!

​Year 2 have been busy artists this half-term, exploring printing through a colourful and creative unit inspired by the work of designer Orla Kiely. The children loved discovering her bold use of shape, colour and repeating patterns, and it sparked lots of excitement and ideas in the classroom.

​The children began by looking closely at examples of Orla Kiely’s designs, noticing how simple shapes can be repeated to create striking patterns. They experimented with pattern layouts, thinking carefully about spacing, repetition and colour choices. We talked about how artists plan their work and how patterns can tell a visual story.

​Next came the hands-on part! Each child designed and made their own printing block using sponge, carefully cutting and shaping it to match their chosen design. This required great focus and fine motor skills, as well as problem-solving when shapes didn’t quite work the first time. The children showed fantastic perseverance and creativity throughout this stage.

​Once their blocks were ready, the children explored printing with paint, experimenting with pressure, colour combinations and repeated prints. They quickly discovered that printing doesn’t always come out “perfect” — and that sometimes the most interesting results come from happy accidents! The final pieces show a wonderful range of repeating patterns, from bold and bright to subtle and carefully balanced.
We are so proud of the thought, effort and enthusiasm Year 2 have put into this unit. Their finished prints are full of personality and reflect their growing confidence as artists. Please enjoy the photos below, which capture both the creative process and the fantastic final outcomes.
Well done, Year 2 — what brilliant designers you are!