Hand print children


135+ Kids Handprint Art Projects & Crafts for All Seasons for All Seasons

Kids love making handprint art. What is more fun than dipping your hands in paint? It’s incredible just how many ways you can turn a simple handprint into a work of art. All you need is a little creativity and a few fun ideas.

Kids love getting their hands all painty to create art!

Hand Art for Kids of All Ages

Today we have much more than a few hand art ideas. We started with over 75 and just keep adding fun handprint art projects– all created with kids’ hands. Now we’ve grown to over 130 kids’ handprint art ideas that work for children of all ages including adults!

Making Handprint Art at Home & in the Classroom

So many of our favorite handprint crafts are holiday-related. I think it is one of the easiest art projects to do as a classroom or family. And what is so fun about handprint art is it becomes a memory of a moment in time when little hands were exactly that size. Oh, and it is a great gift idea!

  • Handprint art is one of the earliest art forms.  Even babies can do it!
  • Handprint art gives a time capsule of information if you repeat the same project.
  • More than one hand can get in on the project.
  • A perfect handprint is not required!  
  • Getting our hands all painty is fun.
  • Giving the gift of handprint art is something that is appreciated by the receiver.
Use a non-toxic, washable paint on hands for the best results.

This article contains affiliate links.

Best Paint for Handprints Crafts & Art Projects

Non-toxic, washable paint is a must for any type of kid art project, but even MORE important when it comes to handprint art. 

  • Traditionally, Tempura paint was the best option for creating handprint art because it is not permanent and easily washed off. Our favorite tempura paint set which comes with 6 large 8 oz bottles.
  • Now there are other options including paints that are labeled “washable” which generally are marketed for toddlers and preschoolers because of their washability.  These washable paints are not permanent.  Our favorite washable paint sets which comes with 12 bottles in 6 colors plus a glitter version of each.
  • Acrylic paints are permanent and depending on the brand vary in their washability factor.  Our favorite acrylic paint sets that includes 24 colors.

All three of these types of paints are water-based which is essential when it comes to clean up!

Our very first footprint was made with ink…

Using Ink for Handprints Vs. Paint

Using ink for handprints (and footprints) can be a nostalgic journey back to our very first print in the hospital.  Traditional ink may be safe, but it is not easy to remove!  There are now non-toxic and washable ink pad varieties that create the definition without the mess. Our favorite washable ink pads that works great with kids.

HOLIDAY HANDPRINT CRAFTS FOR KIDS

So many of our favorite handprint crafts are holiday-related. I think it is one of the easiest art projects to do as a classroom or family. And what is so fun about handprint art is it becomes a memory of a moment in time when little hands were exactly that size…

Kids Christmas Handprint Art Projects

1. Handprint Christmas Tree and Wreath

Make a handprint Christmas tree that is super cute as a holiday decoration or homemade Christmas cards.

What a cute Santa made out of a handprint from Meaningful Mama!

2. Salt Dough Santa Handprint Ornament

This homemade handprint salt dough ornament is the perfect keepsake. I can see making a new one every year to add to the tree!

3. Santa and his Beard Handprint Craft

If you don’t want to go to the lengths of making salt dough, a similar process can be used on paper to make Santa and his beard.

4. Baby Jesus in a Manger

DIY handprint Jesus in a manger for a festive Christmas celebration. This is the perfect Christmas preschool craft project for children’s churches or homes.

5. Paper Plate Holiday Wreath

This homemade paper holiday wreath is decked out with handprint bows!

6. Handprint Christmas Keepsake Cards

This cute Christmas keepsake would be the perfect homemade Christmas card idea that incorporates the kids’ hands and footprints. Let’s not forget about the footprint art ideas!

I will never look at a sleigh without thinking of a footprint…from Glued to My Crafts Blog

7. Handprint Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Rudolph handprint craft for kids that uses a red pom-pom for his very shiny nose and a great way to celebrate our favorite reindeer.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a popular handprint art subject

8. Reindeer Footprint and Photo Gift

Footprint reindeer alongside a cherished family photo makes a cute gift or keepsake.

9. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Cards

DIY Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer cards that double as homemade kid-made gifts.

10. Rudolph’s Antlers Handprint Roll

Hands become Rudolph’s antlers in this toilet paper roll craft that is just adorable.

11. Rudolph Christmas Card Handprint

Here is a version that is a cute Christmas card featuring Rudolph himself.

12. Winter Handprint Tree

This cute winter tree consists of a black-painted hand and a bunch of snowy white paint. This could work for both Christmas and winter fun.

Bleak winter scene that makes me shiver in the cold from Fun a Day!

13. Rudolph Antler Hat Handprint Crafts

Make a Rudolph antler hat using your handprints!

14. Easy Christmas Handprint Wreath Craft

Make a handprint Christmas wreath on paper. What a cute project!

15. Snowman Family Christmas Ball Handprint

What a cute snowman family on this homemade ornament. Do you see where the handprint is?

What a cute family! A handprint snowman family from Dowdey Family Blog

16.

Salt Dough Snowman Family Handprint

Check out the salt dough snowman family ornament too. It is adorable!

17. Santa Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments

Make Santa salt dough ornaments using little hands…and big hands too!

18. Nativity Handprint Ornament

DIY Nativity salt dough handprint ornament the entire family can get involved in making and hanging on the tree.

Mary, Joseph, Wisemen, and Shepherd around the Baby Jesus

19. Handprint Christmas Tree Ornaments

Another fun salt dough handprint ornament is a Christmas tree and kids can do it all!

20. Handprint Holly Chalkboard Sign

Check out the DIY Holly Jolly chalkboard decorated with handprint holly.

21. Christmas Handprint Crafts

More Christmas handprint crafts!

Kids Thanksgiving Handprint Art Projects

22. Handprint Turkey Art

Make a handprint turkey for Thanksgiving this year.   This could make for a fun kids’ craft while the kids are waiting on dinner.

23. Turkey Handprint Canvas

Here is another version of a handprint turkey that also includes feet. I love how it is displayed on a canvas.

24. Thanksgiving Foot and Handprint Turkey Craft

And this version of a handprint turkey craft is one of my favorites.

Thanksgiving Handprint Turkeys are a tradition from Mindfull Meanderings

25. Family Handprint Turkey Idea

Get the entire family involved with this family handprint turkey idea.

26. Handprint Turkey Paper Plates Craft

Super easy toddler handprint turkey craft made with paper plates.

27. Candy Corn Handprint Turkey Art

This handprint turkey craft includes my favorite candy, Candy Corn (don’t judge me!). It is a festive and adorable craft project.

28. Salt Dough Handprint Pumpkin

Make a salt dough handprint pumpkin (unavailable) as a keepsake from the holidays.

Create a new handprint tradition each year with these pumpkins

29. Turkey Headbands

Make Turkey headbands out of colorfully cut out fingers and hands.

30. Handprint Sponge Pumpkins

Handprint pumpkins are the perfect thing to make with super little hands. The texture of little fingers can be shaped with the help of a little paint and a sponge.

31. Handprint Cornucopia

Create this thanks handprint cornucopia which includes every member of the family’s handprint.

What a way to show we are thankful for each other!

32. Pilgrim Ship Handprint Craft

Use your hands to create this ocean scene with ships sailing in the water. Celebrate the pilgrims’ voyage across the ocean with this handprint ship.

33. Silly Thanksgiving Handprint Craft Ideas

Here is a collection of Thanksgiving handprint ideas that you won’t want to miss. You can modify or create your own with this inspiration.

34. Handprint Turkey Wooden Frame

What a cute turkey frame whose feathers are made from handprints.

Super cute turkey frame from Glued to My Crafts Blog

35. Handprint Acorns

This is a fun fall craft that fits in with the whole spirit of thanksgiving. Make acorns with little fingers!

36. Fall Handprint Tree

Here is a fun fall tree handprint craft for even the littlest crafters. Toddlers can make this!

Kids Halloween Handprint Art Projects

37. Footprint and HandFrankenstein Print Art

Since Halloween is almost here, this Frankenstein handprint art is the perfect craft.   There is a second version to make one with your footprint, too!

Halloween is scary cute with Crafty Morning

38. Witch on a Broomstick Handprint Craft

Another great Halloween craft is this witch on a broomstick.   So fun!

39. Spooky Ghost Footprints

We snuck in a fun footprint ghost you can make with kids of any age because…well they are just scary cute. I am pretty sure you could modify this to make handprint ghosts as well.

40. Frankenstein Handprint

Frankenstein comes to life {giggle} two ways – one with handprints and one with a footprint.

41. Handprint Ghosts for Halloween

Looooove these cute handprint ghosts. They are scary cute.

42. Spookily-Adorable Handprint Decorations

Here are a whole bunch of toddler Halloween craft ideas that use hands and feet to create decorations for the spooky holiday.

43. Halloween Handprint Cat Art

Make a Halloween handprint cat. It is really cute.

44. Paper Plate Halloween Handprint Wreath

Oh, the Halloween cuteness continues with this bright and festive tissue paper wreath that is home to a handprint spider with very large Googly eyes.

Proving spiders who live in tissue paper wreaths are adorable from I Heart Arts n Crafts

45. Handprint Skeleton Hand

I feel like this adorable Halloween skeleton hand could also be listed under “learning activities” (see below) because you could strategically use the q-tips where they are more anatomically correct!

One of the cutest handprints ever from Crafty Morning

Kids St. Patricks Day Handprint Craft

46. Handprint Leprechaun Craft

Make at St. Patrick’s day leprechaun using your handprint as his beard.

47. Simple Leprechaun Handprint

Here is another version of a leprechaun as well.

48. St. Patrick’s Day Rainbow Handprint Art

Use your handprint as the rainbow peeking out of this pot of gold. This is one of the cutest projects…ever.

LOVE the idea of a handprint rainbow from B-Inspired Mama

49. Shamrock Handprint Canvas Craft

Make this handprint shamrock for a little extra luck. I love how it is displayed on a canvas so it can be wall art as well.

Kids Easter Handprint Art

50. Easter Bunny Handprint Craft

These Easter bunny handprint crafts for kids are really cute and the perfect Easter day activity.

Oh the cuteness of handprint bunnies from Sassy Dealz

51. Spring Flower Handprints

These spring flowers are super cute made of painted hands cut out and added to green stems for a bouquet.

52. Easter Egg Handprints

Make Easter eggs out of hands! No joke. This is super cute and an easy art project for almost any age child.

53. Easter Chick and Bunny Handprint Puppets

These chick and bunny hand puppets are so cute because they are hand puppets made out of handprints.

Let’s play with our handprint hand puppets!

54. Handprint Tulips

Another spring-inspired activity is the handprint tulip garden. These are so bright and cheerful!

55. He is Risen Handprint Easter Craft

He is Risen handprint art project that would be a great Easter children’s church activity or fun at home.

4th of July Handprint Art Project

56. Handprint Flag Craft

Paint your hand red with and blue for the perfect patriotic flag craft.

This looks like a very good place to start from B-Inspired Mama

57. Handprint Eagle Art

E is for Eagle and you can definitely make it a bald eagle to celebrate the Fourth of July.

58. Washi Tape Handprint Heart

Check out the red, white, and blue washi tape handprint art that could be very patriotic!

Animal Handprint Art Projects for Kids

59.

Handprint Art Owls

Your kid’s handprint is the perfect shape for owls perched on a tree branch. This craft is perfect for even toddlers.

60. Newspaper Handprint Owl Art

Here is another version of an owl that uses handprints for the wings. Super cute craft for preschoolers and Kindergarteners.

61. Foot and Handprint Lobsters

Make this lobster’s big claws with your handprints and its body with your foot!

62. Cute Bunny Handprint Craft

Is this not the cutest bunny craft? (unavailable) Make it with your kids with their handprints.

What a dashing rabbit made of handprint from Artsy Craftsy Mom

63. DIY Frog Handprints

Let’s make our own handprint frogs. Grab the green paint and get those little fingers making imprints.

64. Preschool Easter Chick Handprint Art

Use your hands to give this adorable yellow chick his wings!

Let’s make a super cute handprint chick with wings

65. Spring Chick Handprint Craft

Or use some yellow paint…or a lot of paint to make these cute spring handprint chicks.

Could these baby chick handprints be any cuter?

66. Watercolor Flamingo Handprint

This watercolor flamingo (unavailable) is beautiful and your kids will adore it.

67. Painted Handprint Flamingo Canvas

Another flamingo idea created out of hands is something that could be done on canvas and saved for wall art.

68. Handprint Octopus

No handprint zoo would be complete without an octopus craft! I love that purple paint was used in this art project and it turned out so cute.

69. Colorful Octopus Handprint

Here is another version of a cute octopus that lives at the bottom of the sea with some fish friends.

70. Rainbow Foot and Handprint Butterfly

Butterflies were never cuter than when created with hands and feet.

71. B is for Butterfly Handprints

Here is another way to make a butterfly…as in B is for butterfly!

72. Watercolor Butterfly Handprints

What about a watercolor butterfly? It is so pretty it looks like it could fly.

73. Fingerprint Fishes

Fingerprint fish swimming happily in an aquarium is a really fun and simple art project to do with kids of all ages.

Thumbprints gone underwater with Artsy Craftsy Mom

74. Blue Handprint Elephant

Make blue elephants with your handprint! It is surprising how just a small line with a sharpie and an eye makes this cool kid’s art project look like elephants!

75. Bees and Hive Handprints

Fingerprint bees buzz around a hive in this cute handprint art project.

76. Bumble Bee Minibeast Handprints

Check out the way to make a bumblebee with black and yellow paint on the child’s hands.

77. Birds Sitting on a Branch Handprints

The cutest two blue birds sitting on a branch made entirely of handprints!

I love these birds from Glued to My Crafts Blog

78. Mallard Duck Handprint Art

Let’s make a Mallard duck! He is so cute and has some fancy feathers.

79. Yellow Duck Handprint

And here is a cute yellow duck you can make with a handprint.

80. Handprint Shark Art

Make a handprint shark (unavailable) with big scary teeth and a little bit of a smile.

81. The Handprint Chicken Art

Your handprint can easily be transformed into a chicken. And that chicken is super cute.

82. Black Spider Handprints

Kids can stamp their hands covered with black paint and make spiders!

I feel like spiders can’t be this cute from Learning and Exploring Through Play

83. Alligator Handprint

A is for Alligator in this cute handprint alligator in a puddle.

84. Adorable Dog Handprint

D is for Dog and this dog is made of a handprint…and so is the grass!

85. Handprint Animal Canvas Gifts

And the cutest ever collection of handprint animals painted on canvas could be an adorable room decoration or gift.

Handprint Art that Celebrates Family

86. Family Handprint Wall Art

This adorable handprint embroidery hoop (unavailable) art is perfect for hanging in the family room. It will freeze a point in time when everyone in the family was “just this big”.

87. Baking Soda Clay Handprint Keepsakes

This is a really cute baking soda clay handprint craft that works well as a gift or wall art at home.

Love how articulate the lines in that hand by Mama Papa Bubba

88. Pear Head Handprint Canvas Set

Create this canvas set to show the entire family’s hands at a certain time or to help remember one child’s handprint size over time.

89. Photo Frame Handprint Craft

This is the cutest gift that the kids can make (unavailable) for mom with their own handprints. Frame a picture plus craft paper hands.

90. Yearly Tradition Handprint Art Piece

Mark the years in style with this cute idea to do a yearly handprint art piece. This would be so cute later with a bunch all hung on the wall. This is the 3-year-old hand version.

Collect memories and hang them on your walls by Mama Papa Bubba

91. Handprint Hearts for Valentine’s Day

Heart and handprint art that works for Valentine’s Day or any day where love and family are involved!

92.

Paper Strip Handprint Art

The cutest handprint art which could be modified for different types of decor and color combinations is the paper strip handprint keepsake.

93. DIY Handprint Leaf Napkins

This homemade fabric pattern is oh so cute! It is autumn leaves made out of the family’s handprints. You could make cute hand towels to give as family gifts or I think this would be really cute as wall art stretched over a frame.

Hands are good in keeping in good leaf shape by Mama Papa Bubba

94. Homemade Handprint Wrapping Paper

For your gift-giving, check out this homemade handprint wrapping paper.

95. Family Handprints

Check out the lockdown handprint art that we found all over the internet…so sweet!

96. Valentine’s Day Handprint Art

Family stacked handprint art that is perfect for Valentine’s day…or any day!

Perfect Handprint Gifts

97. Handprint Baseball

This is the cutest idea for a Father’s Day gift. Use the baby/child handprint on a baseball. Check out Sunny Day Family for the printable poem that accompanies the gift.

I heard it comes with a sweet poem too by Sunny Day Family

98. Handprint Flower Pot

Create the perfect kid-made homemade gift with this fingerprint flower pot idea.

99. Handprinted Spring Jars

DIY fingerprint art decorates some spring jars that would be a really cute gift.

Lovely jars to use for the whole gang from Meatloaf and Melodrama

100. Homemade Handprint Magnets

Thumb body loves you homemade magnets make adorable gifts.

101. Handprint Greeting Cards

Thumbprint flowers make really beautiful homemade cards for kids to send.

102. Handprint Flower Bouquet

Make grandma a handprint bouquet. This could be a cute canvas idea as well.

103. Mason Jar Handprint Craft

Make a handprint gift jar at home with kids. This could be a great idea for almost any homemade gift-giving situation.

104. Say I Love You Handprint Art

The “I love you” handprint craft that doubles as a thoughtful gift made by kids.

105. Valentine’s Day Handprint Pop-Up Cards

This adorable pop-up card is homemade and would be the cutest thing to send featuring a child’s hand.(Link unavailable)

Everyone’s going’s to have a big smile when they see these lovely flowers by Little Fingers Big Art.

106. Father’s Day Handprint Heart Card

Hands together form a heart in this cute card idea that is created specifically for Father’s Day but could be used for other occasions. (Link unavailable)

107. Handprint Tea Towels

Hand towel takes on a whole new meaning with this cute gift idea (unavailable) for handprint tea towels that say “Hand me a towel”.

108. Painted Handprint Flowerpot

Make a handprint flower pot. With this craft, the painted hand makes the stems of the flowers.

109. High-Five Handprint Pop-Up Card

A high-five pop-up card that kids can make themselves!

110. You Are My Superhero Handprint card

You are my superhero kid-made card idea.

111. Fingerprint Heart Keyring Craft

DIY Fingerprint keyring makes a super cute gift or a cool holiday ornament.

Such a nice thing to give for keeps by Messy Little Monster.

112. Preschool Valentine’s Handprint Heart

Laugh Out Loud. Live in Wonder. Love with your whole heart. These are the sentiments of this cute handprint heart that works as a lovely gift. It is easy enough that preschool-age kids can make this to give.

113. Handprint Book Bag

Make a handprint bag for a relative. These are super cute…you may want to have the kids make an extra for you!

114. DIY Keepsake Handprint Boxes

DIY handprint keepsake boxes that work well for keeping special memory items at home for each kid or would make a really awesome gift for someone you love.

115. Hand-Shaped Handprint Ring Dish

{Squeal} I love this gift so much! Make a custom hand from your child’s hand to give or keep as a ring dish.

Beautifully designed ring dish by Mama Papa Bubba.

116. Handprint Flower Apron

Make a handprint apron to wear or give as a gift.

117. DIY Handprint T-Shirts

Handprint t-shirts are cute for family shirts or to give as gifts.

Handprint Crafts that are Beautiful Art

118. Handprint Art Techniques Perfect for Little Fingers

The negative space in your child’s hand and arm creates a lovely fall tree wall art project. I am thinking this would be awesome as a four-seasons group of wall art as well!

119. Handprint Heart Bookmarks

These heart bookmarks are adorable and would make a really cute gift or Valentine handout. The hearts are shaped with thumbprints.

120. Daffodil Handprint Art

Homemade 3D Daffodil art made out of handprints and some other fun things you already have around the house. Kindergartners are going to go crazy for this project.

121. Kids Handprint Fall Tree Craft

Fall tree art is made with multi-color handprints signifying the colors of autumn.

What a lovely handprint tree art by Crafty Morning!

122. Creative Handprint Art Project

Creative hand art – let kids use their own hands to create drawings and pictures full of creative fun.

123. Hand and Hearts – Andy Warhol Handprint Art

This Andy Warhol art project is just plain awesome. Featuring different handprints and colors, I need this at my house!

Can you guess whose hands are used on this project?

124. Flower Handprint Art

Toddlers can make serious art with these fun fingerprint techniques for making flowers and more…

125. Paper Plate Handprint Sun

Paper plates are transformed into a bright sun with the help of some orange and yellow handprints.

126. Lady Bug Handprint Carton Craft

Love this 3D ladybug sitting on a handprint leaf.

Fun Handprint Art Projects for Older Kids

127. Super Hero Handprint Coasters

This superhero set of handprint art ideas is perfect for older kids. There are Batman, Hulk, and Spiderman versions of handprint awesomeness.

Mornings will be easy and fun when you see mug coasters like this one!

128. Handprint Yoda Art

May the force be with you as you create your own handprint Yoda.

129. Handprint Pirate Craft for Kids

Ahoy Matey! Let’s be handprint pirates for the day.

Learning Activities with Easy Handprint Crafts

130. Preschoolers Learning Handprint Activities

I love this idea! Use your paintbrush, paint, paper, and handprint to learn left hand from right hand.

131. Animal Track Hand Prints

Make animal tracks with your hands. Each new print can be tied into a favorite animal or learning module.

132. Apple Bulletin Handprint Board

Teachers will love this idea for a child’s handprint apple bulletin board. I think it would make a really cute at-home craft too.

133. Alphabet Handprint Cards

A handprint craft for every letter of the alphabet (unavailable)!

Good thing it really looks like a unicorn!

134. “Duck On A Bike” Handprint Story Art

Create a really fun way to re-tell a story with handprints. This example uses the book Duck on a Bike and the resulting handprint story craft is adorable.

135. The Grouchy Lady Bug Book Handprint Craft

Here is a cute craft to go along with Eric Carle’s The Grouchy Ladybug book.

136. Handprint Pattern Pictures

Explore patterns by creating a hand pattern with markers or crayons and then trying to repeat it.

137. Handprint Apple Tree Kids Craft

Apple for the teacher…or apple TREE for the teacher. This is a cute apple tree art made out of hands.

138. Handprint Cherry Blossom Tree

How about a cherry blossom tree? This is another cute handmade art project.

139. Handprint Painted Mango Tree Project

Also, if you are looking for a mango tree art project, we have you covered there too!

Whew!  That should keep you busy for a little while making the most amazing handprint art…ever! 

So, which handprint art project or handprint craft are you going to do with the kids today? Excited to see what you decided to make!

135+ Kids Handprint Art Projects & Crafts for All Seasons for All Seasons

Kids love making handprint art. What is more fun than dipping your hands in paint? It’s incredible just how many ways you can turn a simple handprint into a work of art. All you need is a little creativity and a few fun ideas.

Kids love getting their hands all painty to create art!

Hand Art for Kids of All Ages

Today we have much more than a few hand art ideas. We started with over 75 and just keep adding fun handprint art projects– all created with kids’ hands. Now we’ve grown to over 130 kids’ handprint art ideas that work for children of all ages including adults!

Making Handprint Art at Home & in the Classroom

So many of our favorite handprint crafts are holiday-related. I think it is one of the easiest art projects to do as a classroom or family. And what is so fun about handprint art is it becomes a memory of a moment in time when little hands were exactly that size. Oh, and it is a great gift idea!

  • Handprint art is one of the earliest art forms.   Even babies can do it!
  • Handprint art gives a time capsule of information if you repeat the same project.
  • More than one hand can get in on the project.
  • A perfect handprint is not required!  
  • Getting our hands all painty is fun.
  • Giving the gift of handprint art is something that is appreciated by the receiver.
Use a non-toxic, washable paint on hands for the best results.

This article contains affiliate links.

Best Paint for Handprints Crafts & Art Projects

Non-toxic, washable paint is a must for any type of kid art project, but even MORE important when it comes to handprint art. 

  • Traditionally, Tempura paint was the best option for creating handprint art because it is not permanent and easily washed off. Our favorite tempura paint set which comes with 6 large 8 oz bottles.
  • Now there are other options including paints that are labeled “washable” which generally are marketed for toddlers and preschoolers because of their washability.   These washable paints are not permanent.  Our favorite washable paint sets which comes with 12 bottles in 6 colors plus a glitter version of each.
  • Acrylic paints are permanent and depending on the brand vary in their washability factor.  Our favorite acrylic paint sets that includes 24 colors.

All three of these types of paints are water-based which is essential when it comes to clean up!

Our very first footprint was made with ink…

Using Ink for Handprints Vs. Paint

Using ink for handprints (and footprints) can be a nostalgic journey back to our very first print in the hospital.  Traditional ink may be safe, but it is not easy to remove!  There are now non-toxic and washable ink pad varieties that create the definition without the mess. Our favorite washable ink pads that works great with kids.

HOLIDAY HANDPRINT CRAFTS FOR KIDS

So many of our favorite handprint crafts are holiday-related. I think it is one of the easiest art projects to do as a classroom or family. And what is so fun about handprint art is it becomes a memory of a moment in time when little hands were exactly that size…

Kids Christmas Handprint Art Projects

1. Handprint Christmas Tree and Wreath

Make a handprint Christmas tree that is super cute as a holiday decoration or homemade Christmas cards.

What a cute Santa made out of a handprint from Meaningful Mama!

2. Salt Dough Santa Handprint Ornament

This homemade handprint salt dough ornament is the perfect keepsake. I can see making a new one every year to add to the tree!

3. Santa and his Beard Handprint Craft

If you don’t want to go to the lengths of making salt dough, a similar process can be used on paper to make Santa and his beard.

4. Baby Jesus in a Manger

DIY handprint Jesus in a manger for a festive Christmas celebration. This is the perfect Christmas preschool craft project for children’s churches or homes.

5. Paper Plate Holiday Wreath

This homemade paper holiday wreath is decked out with handprint bows!

6. Handprint Christmas Keepsake Cards

This cute Christmas keepsake would be the perfect homemade Christmas card idea that incorporates the kids’ hands and footprints. Let’s not forget about the footprint art ideas!

I will never look at a sleigh without thinking of a footprint…from Glued to My Crafts Blog

7. Handprint Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Rudolph handprint craft for kids that uses a red pom-pom for his very shiny nose and a great way to celebrate our favorite reindeer.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a popular handprint art subject

8. Reindeer Footprint and Photo Gift

Footprint reindeer alongside a cherished family photo makes a cute gift or keepsake.

9. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Cards

DIY Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer cards that double as homemade kid-made gifts.

10. Rudolph’s Antlers Handprint Roll

Hands become Rudolph’s antlers in this toilet paper roll craft that is just adorable.

11. Rudolph Christmas Card Handprint

Here is a version that is a cute Christmas card featuring Rudolph himself.

12. Winter Handprint Tree

This cute winter tree consists of a black-painted hand and a bunch of snowy white paint. This could work for both Christmas and winter fun.

Bleak winter scene that makes me shiver in the cold from Fun a Day!

13. Rudolph Antler Hat Handprint Crafts

Make a Rudolph antler hat using your handprints!

14. Easy Christmas Handprint Wreath Craft

Make a handprint Christmas wreath on paper. What a cute project!

15. Snowman Family Christmas Ball Handprint

What a cute snowman family on this homemade ornament. Do you see where the handprint is?

What a cute family! A handprint snowman family from Dowdey Family Blog

16. Salt Dough Snowman Family Handprint

Check out the salt dough snowman family ornament too. It is adorable!

17. Santa Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments

Make Santa salt dough ornaments using little hands…and big hands too!

18.

Nativity Handprint Ornament

DIY Nativity salt dough handprint ornament the entire family can get involved in making and hanging on the tree.

Mary, Joseph, Wisemen, and Shepherd around the Baby Jesus

19. Handprint Christmas Tree Ornaments

Another fun salt dough handprint ornament is a Christmas tree and kids can do it all!

20. Handprint Holly Chalkboard Sign

Check out the DIY Holly Jolly chalkboard decorated with handprint holly.

21. Christmas Handprint Crafts

More Christmas handprint crafts!

Kids Thanksgiving Handprint Art Projects

22. Handprint Turkey Art

Make a handprint turkey for Thanksgiving this year.   This could make for a fun kids’ craft while the kids are waiting on dinner.

23. Turkey Handprint Canvas

Here is another version of a handprint turkey that also includes feet. I love how it is displayed on a canvas.

24. Thanksgiving Foot and Handprint Turkey Craft

And this version of a handprint turkey craft is one of my favorites.

Thanksgiving Handprint Turkeys are a tradition from Mindfull Meanderings

25. Family Handprint Turkey Idea

Get the entire family involved with this family handprint turkey idea.

26. Handprint Turkey Paper Plates Craft

Super easy toddler handprint turkey craft made with paper plates.

27. Candy Corn Handprint Turkey Art

This handprint turkey craft includes my favorite candy, Candy Corn (don’t judge me!). It is a festive and adorable craft project.

28. Salt Dough Handprint Pumpkin

Make a salt dough handprint pumpkin (unavailable) as a keepsake from the holidays.

Create a new handprint tradition each year with these pumpkins

29. Turkey Headbands

Make Turkey headbands out of colorfully cut out fingers and hands.

30. Handprint Sponge Pumpkins

Handprint pumpkins are the perfect thing to make with super little hands. The texture of little fingers can be shaped with the help of a little paint and a sponge.

31.

Handprint Cornucopia

Create this thanks handprint cornucopia which includes every member of the family’s handprint.

What a way to show we are thankful for each other!

32. Pilgrim Ship Handprint Craft

Use your hands to create this ocean scene with ships sailing in the water. Celebrate the pilgrims’ voyage across the ocean with this handprint ship.

33. Silly Thanksgiving Handprint Craft Ideas

Here is a collection of Thanksgiving handprint ideas that you won’t want to miss. You can modify or create your own with this inspiration.

34. Handprint Turkey Wooden Frame

What a cute turkey frame whose feathers are made from handprints.

Super cute turkey frame from Glued to My Crafts Blog

35. Handprint Acorns

This is a fun fall craft that fits in with the whole spirit of thanksgiving. Make acorns with little fingers!

36. Fall Handprint Tree

Here is a fun fall tree handprint craft for even the littlest crafters. Toddlers can make this!

Kids Halloween Handprint Art Projects

37.

Footprint and HandFrankenstein Print Art

Since Halloween is almost here, this Frankenstein handprint art is the perfect craft.   There is a second version to make one with your footprint, too!

Halloween is scary cute with Crafty Morning

38. Witch on a Broomstick Handprint Craft

Another great Halloween craft is this witch on a broomstick.   So fun!

39. Spooky Ghost Footprints

We snuck in a fun footprint ghost you can make with kids of any age because…well they are just scary cute. I am pretty sure you could modify this to make handprint ghosts as well.

40. Frankenstein Handprint

Frankenstein comes to life {giggle} two ways – one with handprints and one with a footprint.

41. Handprint Ghosts for Halloween

Looooove these cute handprint ghosts. They are scary cute.

42. Spookily-Adorable Handprint Decorations

Here are a whole bunch of toddler Halloween craft ideas that use hands and feet to create decorations for the spooky holiday.

43. Halloween Handprint Cat Art

Make a Halloween handprint cat. It is really cute.

44. Paper Plate Halloween Handprint Wreath

Oh, the Halloween cuteness continues with this bright and festive tissue paper wreath that is home to a handprint spider with very large Googly eyes.

Proving spiders who live in tissue paper wreaths are adorable from I Heart Arts n Crafts

45. Handprint Skeleton Hand

I feel like this adorable Halloween skeleton hand could also be listed under “learning activities” (see below) because you could strategically use the q-tips where they are more anatomically correct!

One of the cutest handprints ever from Crafty Morning

Kids St. Patricks Day Handprint Craft

46. Handprint Leprechaun Craft

Make at St. Patrick’s day leprechaun using your handprint as his beard.

47. Simple Leprechaun Handprint

Here is another version of a leprechaun as well.

48. St. Patrick’s Day Rainbow Handprint Art

Use your handprint as the rainbow peeking out of this pot of gold. This is one of the cutest projects…ever.

LOVE the idea of a handprint rainbow from B-Inspired Mama

49. Shamrock Handprint Canvas Craft

Make this handprint shamrock for a little extra luck. I love how it is displayed on a canvas so it can be wall art as well.

Kids Easter Handprint Art

50. Easter Bunny Handprint Craft

These Easter bunny handprint crafts for kids are really cute and the perfect Easter day activity.

Oh the cuteness of handprint bunnies from Sassy Dealz

51. Spring Flower Handprints

These spring flowers are super cute made of painted hands cut out and added to green stems for a bouquet.

52. Easter Egg Handprints

Make Easter eggs out of hands! No joke. This is super cute and an easy art project for almost any age child.

53. Easter Chick and Bunny Handprint Puppets

These chick and bunny hand puppets are so cute because they are hand puppets made out of handprints.

Let’s play with our handprint hand puppets!

54.

Handprint Tulips

Another spring-inspired activity is the handprint tulip garden. These are so bright and cheerful!

55. He is Risen Handprint Easter Craft

He is Risen handprint art project that would be a great Easter children’s church activity or fun at home.

4th of July Handprint Art Project

56. Handprint Flag Craft

Paint your hand red with and blue for the perfect patriotic flag craft.

This looks like a very good place to start from B-Inspired Mama

57. Handprint Eagle Art

E is for Eagle and you can definitely make it a bald eagle to celebrate the Fourth of July.

58. Washi Tape Handprint Heart

Check out the red, white, and blue washi tape handprint art that could be very patriotic!

Animal Handprint Art Projects for Kids

59. Handprint Art Owls

Your kid’s handprint is the perfect shape for owls perched on a tree branch. This craft is perfect for even toddlers.

60. Newspaper Handprint Owl Art

Here is another version of an owl that uses handprints for the wings. Super cute craft for preschoolers and Kindergarteners.

61. Foot and Handprint Lobsters

Make this lobster’s big claws with your handprints and its body with your foot!

62. Cute Bunny Handprint Craft

Is this not the cutest bunny craft? (unavailable) Make it with your kids with their handprints.

What a dashing rabbit made of handprint from Artsy Craftsy Mom

63. DIY Frog Handprints

Let’s make our own handprint frogs. Grab the green paint and get those little fingers making imprints.

64. Preschool Easter Chick Handprint Art

Use your hands to give this adorable yellow chick his wings!

Let’s make a super cute handprint chick with wings

65. Spring Chick Handprint Craft

Or use some yellow paint…or a lot of paint to make these cute spring handprint chicks.

Could these baby chick handprints be any cuter?

66. Watercolor Flamingo Handprint

This watercolor flamingo (unavailable) is beautiful and your kids will adore it.

67. Painted Handprint Flamingo Canvas

Another flamingo idea created out of hands is something that could be done on canvas and saved for wall art.

68. Handprint Octopus

No handprint zoo would be complete without an octopus craft! I love that purple paint was used in this art project and it turned out so cute.

69. Colorful Octopus Handprint

Here is another version of a cute octopus that lives at the bottom of the sea with some fish friends.

70. Rainbow Foot and Handprint Butterfly

Butterflies were never cuter than when created with hands and feet.

71. B is for Butterfly Handprints

Here is another way to make a butterfly…as in B is for butterfly!

72. Watercolor Butterfly Handprints

What about a watercolor butterfly? It is so pretty it looks like it could fly.

73. Fingerprint Fishes

Fingerprint fish swimming happily in an aquarium is a really fun and simple art project to do with kids of all ages.

Thumbprints gone underwater with Artsy Craftsy Mom

74. Blue Handprint Elephant

Make blue elephants with your handprint! It is surprising how just a small line with a sharpie and an eye makes this cool kid’s art project look like elephants!

75. Bees and Hive Handprints

Fingerprint bees buzz around a hive in this cute handprint art project.

76. Bumble Bee Minibeast Handprints

Check out the way to make a bumblebee with black and yellow paint on the child’s hands.

77. Birds Sitting on a Branch Handprints

The cutest two blue birds sitting on a branch made entirely of handprints!

I love these birds from Glued to My Crafts Blog

78. Mallard Duck Handprint Art

Let’s make a Mallard duck! He is so cute and has some fancy feathers.

79. Yellow Duck Handprint

And here is a cute yellow duck you can make with a handprint.

80. Handprint Shark Art

Make a handprint shark (unavailable) with big scary teeth and a little bit of a smile.

81. The Handprint Chicken Art

Your handprint can easily be transformed into a chicken. And that chicken is super cute.

82. Black Spider Handprints

Kids can stamp their hands covered with black paint and make spiders!

I feel like spiders can’t be this cute from Learning and Exploring Through Play

83. Alligator Handprint

A is for Alligator in this cute handprint alligator in a puddle.

84. Adorable Dog Handprint

D is for Dog and this dog is made of a handprint…and so is the grass!

85. Handprint Animal Canvas Gifts

And the cutest ever collection of handprint animals painted on canvas could be an adorable room decoration or gift.

Handprint Art that Celebrates Family

86. Family Handprint Wall Art

This adorable handprint embroidery hoop (unavailable) art is perfect for hanging in the family room. It will freeze a point in time when everyone in the family was “just this big”.

87. Baking Soda Clay Handprint Keepsakes

This is a really cute baking soda clay handprint craft that works well as a gift or wall art at home.

Love how articulate the lines in that hand by Mama Papa Bubba

88. Pear Head Handprint Canvas Set

Create this canvas set to show the entire family’s hands at a certain time or to help remember one child’s handprint size over time.

89. Photo Frame Handprint Craft

This is the cutest gift that the kids can make (unavailable) for mom with their own handprints. Frame a picture plus craft paper hands.

90. Yearly Tradition Handprint Art Piece

Mark the years in style with this cute idea to do a yearly handprint art piece. This would be so cute later with a bunch all hung on the wall. This is the 3-year-old hand version.

Collect memories and hang them on your walls by Mama Papa Bubba

91. Handprint Hearts for Valentine’s Day

Heart and handprint art that works for Valentine’s Day or any day where love and family are involved!

92. Paper Strip Handprint Art

The cutest handprint art which could be modified for different types of decor and color combinations is the paper strip handprint keepsake.

93. DIY Handprint Leaf Napkins

This homemade fabric pattern is oh so cute! It is autumn leaves made out of the family’s handprints. You could make cute hand towels to give as family gifts or I think this would be really cute as wall art stretched over a frame.

Hands are good in keeping in good leaf shape by Mama Papa Bubba

94. Homemade Handprint Wrapping Paper

For your gift-giving, check out this homemade handprint wrapping paper.

95. Family Handprints

Check out the lockdown handprint art that we found all over the internet…so sweet!

96. Valentine’s Day Handprint Art

Family stacked handprint art that is perfect for Valentine’s day…or any day!

Perfect Handprint Gifts

97. Handprint Baseball

This is the cutest idea for a Father’s Day gift. Use the baby/child handprint on a baseball. Check out Sunny Day Family for the printable poem that accompanies the gift.

I heard it comes with a sweet poem too by Sunny Day Family

98.

Handprint Flower Pot

Create the perfect kid-made homemade gift with this fingerprint flower pot idea.

99. Handprinted Spring Jars

DIY fingerprint art decorates some spring jars that would be a really cute gift.

Lovely jars to use for the whole gang from Meatloaf and Melodrama

100. Homemade Handprint Magnets

Thumb body loves you homemade magnets make adorable gifts.

101. Handprint Greeting Cards

Thumbprint flowers make really beautiful homemade cards for kids to send.

102. Handprint Flower Bouquet

Make grandma a handprint bouquet. This could be a cute canvas idea as well.

103. Mason Jar Handprint Craft

Make a handprint gift jar at home with kids. This could be a great idea for almost any homemade gift-giving situation.

104. Say I Love You Handprint Art

The “I love you” handprint craft that doubles as a thoughtful gift made by kids.

105. Valentine’s Day Handprint Pop-Up Cards

This adorable pop-up card is homemade and would be the cutest thing to send featuring a child’s hand. (Link unavailable)

Everyone’s going’s to have a big smile when they see these lovely flowers by Little Fingers Big Art.

106. Father’s Day Handprint Heart Card

Hands together form a heart in this cute card idea that is created specifically for Father’s Day but could be used for other occasions. (Link unavailable)

107. Handprint Tea Towels

Hand towel takes on a whole new meaning with this cute gift idea (unavailable) for handprint tea towels that say “Hand me a towel”.

108. Painted Handprint Flowerpot

Make a handprint flower pot. With this craft, the painted hand makes the stems of the flowers.

109. High-Five Handprint Pop-Up Card

A high-five pop-up card that kids can make themselves!

110. You Are My Superhero Handprint card

You are my superhero kid-made card idea.

111. Fingerprint Heart Keyring Craft

DIY Fingerprint keyring makes a super cute gift or a cool holiday ornament.

Such a nice thing to give for keeps by Messy Little Monster.

112. Preschool Valentine’s Handprint Heart

Laugh Out Loud. Live in Wonder. Love with your whole heart. These are the sentiments of this cute handprint heart that works as a lovely gift. It is easy enough that preschool-age kids can make this to give.

113. Handprint Book Bag

Make a handprint bag for a relative. These are super cute…you may want to have the kids make an extra for you!

114. DIY Keepsake Handprint Boxes

DIY handprint keepsake boxes that work well for keeping special memory items at home for each kid or would make a really awesome gift for someone you love.

115. Hand-Shaped Handprint Ring Dish

{Squeal} I love this gift so much! Make a custom hand from your child’s hand to give or keep as a ring dish.

Beautifully designed ring dish by Mama Papa Bubba.

116. Handprint Flower Apron

Make a handprint apron to wear or give as a gift.

117. DIY Handprint T-Shirts

Handprint t-shirts are cute for family shirts or to give as gifts.

Handprint Crafts that are Beautiful Art

118. Handprint Art Techniques Perfect for Little Fingers

The negative space in your child’s hand and arm creates a lovely fall tree wall art project. I am thinking this would be awesome as a four-seasons group of wall art as well!

119. Handprint Heart Bookmarks

These heart bookmarks are adorable and would make a really cute gift or Valentine handout. The hearts are shaped with thumbprints.

120. Daffodil Handprint Art

Homemade 3D Daffodil art made out of handprints and some other fun things you already have around the house. Kindergartners are going to go crazy for this project.

121. Kids Handprint Fall Tree Craft

Fall tree art is made with multi-color handprints signifying the colors of autumn.

What a lovely handprint tree art by Crafty Morning!

122. Creative Handprint Art Project

Creative hand art – let kids use their own hands to create drawings and pictures full of creative fun.

123. Hand and Hearts – Andy Warhol Handprint Art

This Andy Warhol art project is just plain awesome. Featuring different handprints and colors, I need this at my house!

Can you guess whose hands are used on this project?

124. Flower Handprint Art

Toddlers can make serious art with these fun fingerprint techniques for making flowers and more…

125. Paper Plate Handprint Sun

Paper plates are transformed into a bright sun with the help of some orange and yellow handprints.

126. Lady Bug Handprint Carton Craft

Love this 3D ladybug sitting on a handprint leaf.

Fun Handprint Art Projects for Older Kids

127. Super Hero Handprint Coasters

This superhero set of handprint art ideas is perfect for older kids. There are Batman, Hulk, and Spiderman versions of handprint awesomeness.

Mornings will be easy and fun when you see mug coasters like this one!

128. Handprint Yoda Art

May the force be with you as you create your own handprint Yoda.

129. Handprint Pirate Craft for Kids

Ahoy Matey! Let’s be handprint pirates for the day.

Learning Activities with Easy Handprint Crafts

130. Preschoolers Learning Handprint Activities

I love this idea! Use your paintbrush, paint, paper, and handprint to learn left hand from right hand.

131. Animal Track Hand Prints

Make animal tracks with your hands. Each new print can be tied into a favorite animal or learning module.

132. Apple Bulletin Handprint Board

Teachers will love this idea for a child’s handprint apple bulletin board. I think it would make a really cute at-home craft too.

133. Alphabet Handprint Cards

A handprint craft for every letter of the alphabet (unavailable)!

Good thing it really looks like a unicorn!

134. “Duck On A Bike” Handprint Story Art

Create a really fun way to re-tell a story with handprints. This example uses the book Duck on a Bike and the resulting handprint story craft is adorable.

135. The Grouchy Lady Bug Book Handprint Craft

Here is a cute craft to go along with Eric Carle’s The Grouchy Ladybug book.

136. Handprint Pattern Pictures

Explore patterns by creating a hand pattern with markers or crayons and then trying to repeat it.

137. Handprint Apple Tree Kids Craft

Apple for the teacher…or apple TREE for the teacher. This is a cute apple tree art made out of hands.

138. Handprint Cherry Blossom Tree

How about a cherry blossom tree? This is another cute handmade art project.

139. Handprint Painted Mango Tree Project

Also, if you are looking for a mango tree art project, we have you covered there too!

Whew!  That should keep you busy for a little while making the most amazing handprint art…ever! 

So, which handprint art project or handprint craft are you going to do with the kids today? Excited to see what you decided to make!

Summary of classes "Printing - manual printing technique" ⋆

Benchmarking Competition of methodological developments "New Peaks" Artistic orientation

About income 0 Comments Projects of the competition "New Peaks", print

The purpose of creating the work is to get acquainted with different ways of creating a print.

Educational program “Book and applied graphics. Illustrator". nine0003

Printed graphics is a circulation art, its works exist in many copies. These are engravings of all kinds: on wood, on metal, on linoleum, etc. To get them, they use an engraving - an image on a solid material that is covered with paints and then printed on paper.

Printed graphics, as a way of replicating images, has been known since ancient times. Printed graphics became most widespread in Europe in the Middle Ages with the advent of paper and the opening of the printing press. Works of printed graphics that have independent significance are called prints .

Children aged 12-18.

Summary of classes "Printing - hand printing technique".

Surname: NISIMOVA

Name: Olga

Patronymic: Viktorovna

place of work: GBPOU Moscow "Vorobyovy Gory"

Position: Teacher

years of pedagogical activity: 32

The direction of additional education in which you work or the subject taught: art

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The seminar "Peculiarities of the work of the teacher-organizer in the context of the implementation of the professional standard" was organized at a high, professional level. All moments are taken into account, thought out, logically built. Only positive emotions and impressions! I was especially impressed by the professionalism of the moderators, who sensitively and promptly responded to all technical difficulties and moments, as well as the kindness, respect and confidence of the seminar leader. Your seminar is distinguished by relevance, novelty, high level, professionalism. Information is always available, all questions are answered comprehensively. I am very glad that teachers, methodologists, heads of organizations have such a unique opportunity to obtain new, necessary, relevant knowledge without leaving their workplace. That there is always an opportunity to ask questions, and, most importantly, to get competent, exhaustive answers that leave no doubts and feelings. Thank you very much! I am always glad to take part in your seminars, webinars. nine0003

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Pedagogical heritage of the Moscow Palace of Pioneers

how digital printing differs from manual. How to learn to print photos

Michael Lebedev

Documentary photographer

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I started doing photography almost by accident when I entered the university: there was a creative competition, you had to bring 10 photos. I bought the first one, loaded it into Zenith, and immediately fell in love with the process: manual focusing on frosted glass, shutter speed, aperture, shutter click. As a result, I did not go to study there, and photography remained in my life forever.

“While I’m on watch, there is almost nothing in my life except work”

Electric power engineer girl - about her work as a shift in the Amur Region nine0003

Anton Ivanov

Photographer, master of manual photo printing

I was lucky to have a teacher, Alexander Timofeev from St. Petersburg in the broad sense of the word. I learned the basic knowledge of photography from him, in his communal apartment I printed my photograph for the first time. At first, he did not allow me to use a photographic enlarger. You can look, but you can not touch!

The negative is charged into a photographic enlarger, the light passes through it and falls on the paper. Then you process the paper in a cell with chemistry, and the image gradually begins to appear on it. It's indescribable, fantastic feeling! For me it was magic! Even now, having printed thousands of photos, I feel a certain thrill at this moment every time. nine0140

Timofeev never printed from the first page, he always brought the photo to "perfection". Showed: here it is lighter, darker, more contrast. He told how the volume and plasticity are changing. The picture is two-dimensional, but with high-quality printing it may seem three-dimensional due to different contrasts in the plans.

At first he only let me wash the photographs. You walk through a communal apartment full of dumb neighbors and sit washing photos for an hour and a half in a rusty bathtub. I accumulated negatives, and one evening he was tired and lay down to rest - this was my chance! I still remember this picture: the sphinx at the Academy of Arts. I loaded the negative, made a probe and printed. He then appreciated: they say, it turned out great. And for me it was an inspirational moment! I bought myself the first photographic enlarger, and away we go. nine0003

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Despite the digitization of the world, manual printing is still in demand. There are two major factors. The first is the quality of the print. If the film has been well exposed and developed, and then the photograph is correctly printed, then it will look better than digital prints. Even the coolest digital printer will not give such high quality. We are often brought to the gallery to compare prints, and we have a lot of viewing. The digital fingerprint is immediately visible. This photo is the same. There is a raster, pixels, and the whole image in these identical rasters. This image is truly in one plane, two-dimensional. nine0140

And if you look through a grainscope at a section of a gelatin-silver photograph, then we will see these grains: they are of different sizes and shapes. Where you have blacker paper, there are more of these grains, they are denser. And in multi-contrast paper, the grains are also on different layers, depths. And it turns out that the photo is really three-dimensional. There are no even distributions of contrasts, as in digital photography, and our eyes feel it. Plus, there are more halftones, their transitions are smoother, which also affects our perception. Often, when we see a film photograph, it seems to us more harmonious than a digital one. nine0140

The second aspect, and, in my opinion, much more important, is creativity and authorship. That is, I myself photographed, developed the film and printed the photograph. I try to carry the thread of my impressions from the moment of shooting to printing. With my hands, with my heart, I transfer impressions to paper. And I'm the author of this image. It is important to convey these feelings to the viewer. In digital photography, the question of authorship is not obvious. You took a photo, opened it in Photoshop, and it prompts you to apply a color profile. Are you the author in the end or the programmer who came up with this profile? nine0003

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Printing is even more difficult: a good printer always brings something of his own. If you stand behind him and control the process, then all right. What if you just emailed the file? And the worker will print the photo in his own way, although he may have a completely different life experience or attitude. For example, he thumps darkly, but you don’t!
Therefore, the author's hand print will always be in price: although it is a limited edition product, it is unique, which is why such a photograph is sold in galleries. Another point: in manual printing there is vintage and late printing. Vintage - when I shot it and printed it almost immediately, that is, you are plus or minus in one state: political, spiritual, family. And later - when you print in 15-20 years, already with a different life experience, a different artistic vision. And these photos are always different. Manually, photographs are not printed in huge quantities, so this also forms an additional cost. A photograph well printed by hand can be stored for up to 100-150 years - this is also valuable for the art market. The main buyers of photographs are museum institutions, galleries and private collectors. People are buying things! In the modern world, this has become even more important than before: now we are all the time in monitors, phones. And when a person picks up a photograph, he feels it tactilely. Can be hung on the wall, left to children or resold - this is a material thing. nine0003

How St. Petersburg BDT looks from the video engineer's booth

Backstage photo of the Tovstonogov Bolshoi Drama Theater

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Plus, photography has been developing as an art in recent decades. Many salons, galleries recognized her and began to exhibit. It is better to hang a high-quality photograph at home for a certain amount of money than a third-rate painting.

An important moment in my professional development was a trip to study in America with John Stexton, a legend of American photography and a student of Ansel Adams. Probably one of the main motivations for the trip was the desire to print better than anyone in the city. We have always had a very cool lab in technical terms, but we wanted to prove that we are also a high level in the craft of printing. And at some point we realized that we hit the ceiling; began to think what to do. And they found out that there are master classes by John Sexton, and wrote him a letter. He is one of the top photographers, and the printer is now the best in the world. He answered us and agreed to give a master class for our company, so the four of us with colleagues (Yuri Oprya, Maxim Bedov, Vadim Levin and myself) went to California to study. John asked us to bring 10 of his best photos and negatives. In general, you could not get them, because when you see his photos, you understand that this is a different level. The quality of the product - the photos that hang on the walls of his house - knocks you off your feet. nine0140

And we are not new to this business: we have a gallery, we see a lot of cool author's photography - but they are all different in level. And his photographs are all printed perfectly, no matter what subject it is: portrait, landscape or still life. They all match each other, like a needle. It can be seen that they were printed by one person with his own vision. And when we printed with him for the first time, I realized that it was better to forget everything that I knew before. We again studied the basic things - finding contrasts and paper exposure time. A lot of people use a densitometer when printing, a device for measuring negative density, and this soulless machine will show you the contrast and time to print.


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