monotype print

You can do it!

You are familiar with the idea of screen printing. Everyone has a screen printed T-shirt. Maybe you are even familiar with Andy Warhol’s famous screen prints as shown below.

The idea is simple. You push/pull ink through tiny holes in a design on a screen. The trick is to get the design on the screen.

Thermofax machines do this for us. And you do not need the expensive machine to get started.

I have the machine and I made a starter kit for you. You can be screen printing by the end of the week.

This starter kit gives you the 8 designs shown above. They are great for small projects. You can prints, cards, mixed media projects, t-shirts and more.

Video: Screen Printing made easy with Thermofax kit

Watch the motion of my hand. It is so easy to make the print

This Kit is no longer available.

• Show you how to cut, tape and stabilize  the screens
• Print with the screens
• Choose substrates to print on
• Get you started

You will also get information on how to set up your workspace and clean and care for  your new screens.

This Kit is no longer available.

A table cover, scarf, note cards and handbag all made with the thermofax screen starter kit images.

 

Generally I advise folks to use proper screen printing ink so that the ink does not dry too fast and ruin the screen. But a recent shopping trip revealed that the local craft stores are not carrying basic screen printing ink. I am so disappointed.

That lead me to experiment with acrylic craft paint. And I will say that is it possible to print with the craft paint BUT you MUST clean the screen IMMEDIATELY. So the ink does not dry in the holes and ruin your screen. And I do I mean immediately.

All craft paints are different and the cheaper they are the more water they have and the less pigment. I liked how the Martha Stewart satin worked. If the paint is too watery it can not hold the edge.

Another alternative is to order the Golden screen printing medium, mix that with you acrylic craft paint and you should be good to go.

Watch this video and get some idea of images and types of stencils that we will be exploring in the Make Stencil Workshop, the new online printmaking class.

Stencils are the foundation of Printmaking

In this online printmaking workshop, we are going to making lots of stencils, both the masking type and the traditional style. Then you will have tools and imagery for gelatin printmaking, screen printing, maybe for thermofax screens and most certainly for traditional stenciling projects.

The focus of the course is going to be tool creation, plenty of time to practice and then a few projects peppered in.

Read the details and join us today: Make Stencil Workshop

Stencils are the foundation for images in screen printing. Stencils are used as masks and tools in monoprinting on the gel plate.

If you make prints without a press you can make better prints, if you have stronger stencil making skills.

Practice and cut more stencils and you will get better. I hope this does not discourage you or disappoint.

But if you get into the habit of collecting ideas and images, and then cut out one new stencil every couple of days, then your collection of unique hand made stencils will grow at a steady pace, and you will have more than enough printmaking options.

Here are three stencil cutting practice tips:

1. Download my free Cutting SKILLS Worksheet by Linda Germain and use it. If you save all the cut outs you will have 7 small masking stencils and 8 traditional stencils to play with. (print it out on card stock)
2. Start a physical and digital file folder to collect inspiration.
3. Start simple, build your confidence and success and then get more complex. You can do it!

If you think that you would like the guidance of an instructor, support of an art community and 4 weeks of lessons, then join us in the new online printmaking class – Make Stencils Workshop. Click here for the details. Registration is open now and class starts March 28th.

The skills you master in this class will jumpstart and support all your other printmaking processes. However if you are a beginner this will be a good course for you was well. There will be lots of time for skill development  and practice. I hope you join us.

You can be screen printing this week.

• Would  you like to add some fine line marks to your gelatin prints?
• Maybe print some dragonfly cards or
• Just start exploring thermofax screen printing?

You are in luck. I have an 8 piece starter kit of Thermofax screens ready to ship to you today, and you will be pulling beautiful screen prints later this week.

Thermofax screen printing is a quick and easy way to experiment with screen printing. There is no need for light boxes, emulsion and high powered spray washers.

It is all done for you.

You will get 8 small screens and access to the videos to show you how to tape off the screen and start printing within just a few minutes.

The basic idea in screen printing is that you push/pull ink through tiny holes in a mesh screen. In thermofax screen printing the design is created by “burning” certain areas on the emulsion coated screen. This “burning” of emulsion is all done for you. I do it with my machine.

So the screen comes to you a ready to be taped off and printed with.

If you are new to screen printing, then you may not know how convenient this is.

Trust me, it is a huge time saver and make screen printing accessible to many more folks, who don’t have access to a printmaking studio.

If this is still confusing, then watch the video below and see how easy it is to print with Thermofax screens.

Are you ready to start Thermofax Screen Printing?

Then click the paypal button below and I will ship your kit to you ASAP.

With the kit you will have access to 4 private videos that will:

• Show you how to prepare the screens
• Print with the screens
• Choose substrates to print on
• Get you started

You will also get information on how to set up your workspace and clean and care for  your new screens.

This kit is no longer available.

If you have any questions please email me, linda@lindagermain.com

I encourage you to try these 3 steps to creating monotypes or mixed media art that is worthy of framing, selling or gifting.

First – Make a lot of prints.

I often say if I pull 20 prints and 2 are awesome then that is a win. You may be aware of the old art school story about the ceramics professor who gave one group of students the assignment to make one perfect pot and to another group the assignment was to make as many pots as possible. Which group made the best pots? The second group.

Why is more better?

Each time you make print you have an opportunity to learn something about tools, composition and your story.  The more opportunities you have to learn, then the more you learn. You build visual, mental and physical skills every time you pull a print.

Second –  Give yourself and the piece some space.

Wait a day or two before you judge your work and determine whether it is done or needs something more. Then pin the potentials on the wall and ask:

• What do I notice?
• What is working?
• Where does my eye go?
• Is the viewer drawn in?
• Can one or two marks make it pop/complete?

And realize not every print is worthy of completion. Sometimes you learn something from your ugly prints and just begin again.

Third – Play with framing Materials

• Take a small precut mat and use it like view finder over sections of your prints
• See if you can find a pleasing composition
• When you find it, then crop and frame the piece
• Try placing some prints in ready made frames and mats
• Try very small and very large like in a museum
• Have fun with this. You will be growing your compositional skills and you won’t even know it.

Check out the current workshops.