screen printing

I made a couple emulsion based EZscreens yesterday, because it was a nice bright sunny day.

You just need a minute or two of bright sunlight to expose the emulsion coated screen. I made a couple of small text based screens that I hope to use to print on to clay.

When I print on paper I duct tape the edges to give me a well for the ink and also to have something to hold onto. But I have seen some clay artist do not tape the screens to leave them more flexible for printing on shaped surfaces.

I have a book that I have been playing with. It is already sewn together, so I used clothes pins to keep the pages separated while the wet ink dried.

I have been using the EZscreens instead of thermofax screens. The mesh for the old thermofax machines changed a few years back and my machine stopped working correctly.

There is a new machine that is available in the US now, the MiScreen. It goes for about $2500. You can watch a video about that system here from Xpresscreen in NC.

These kind of emulsion based screens are a great way to get delicate detailed impressions. What I love is that I don’t have to deal with chemicals. They work great for the small type of screens that I use.

Happy printing!

Get support from an online class. Check out the current offerings on the printmaking workshop page.

Screen printing can be a way to print lots of similar impressions.

Here I used several small emulsion screens to print the fabric to make this handbag.

One holiday season I used a paper stencil to make these Christmas tree prints for bags for a craft fair and holiday cards.

Scarves are great projects for screen printing with small stencils. I used emulsion screens and paper stencils with embroidery hoops for these scarves.

I converted a photo into an emulsion screen and made holiday ornaments that featured an iconic bridge in our city.

I love this. I made a screen from my nephew’s drawing and was able to use the drawing to make cards.

In the past I have printed quick business cards with an emulsion based screen. I can use this screen for a lot of marketing materials and free give aways.

Here I used the same screen to make a stack of bookmarks for a book arts fair that I participated in.

I have use paper stencils and emulsion based screens to print napkins. These might be a nice idea for gifts.

I love converting my own photos or drawings into a screen that I can use over and over again for different purposes and surfaces. Below I made the screen from a photo that I took in 1978!

This one is from a drawing that I did.

Of course I  add screen printed marks to gelatin prints, artist books and painted papers. The screen printed mark often gives the print pop or focus.

Most recently I gathered a few of my family members and we made a blanket of “love” and well wishes for my sister. We layered the blanket with 1oo’s of impressions from emulsion screens that I had made.

I am hoping that you are thinking about ways that you can use screen printing in your works.

Check out the current offerings on the printmaking workshop page.

Today I cut a paper stencil of a whale and printed many variations of that one stencil.

I used copy paper to make the stencil because it is easy to cut. If I like the design then I might cut another stencil out of Tyvek®. That way it will be reusable.

I printed the watery background first. I used transparent base to create the unpredictable swirls in the impression

I had fun dribbling the ink on to the screen to see what kind of impression I could get.

I tried leaving a horizon line, going beyond the blue and even other papers.

I like to approach screen printing with the idea of discovering what is possible. How can I combine materials and process to make a unique expression?

Get support from an online class. Check out the current offerings on the printmaking workshop page.

When I screen print, I still prefer unique prints and prints with variations.

So I:

• print freely with eyeball registration
• start without a plan
• play with overlapping shapes
• print on different and found papers
• embrace surprises
• see the process as a tool to serve my expression

I like the crisp lines that are characteristic of screen printing. I love when I can convert a delicate drawing into a screen and then use it in many different types of work. The brush below is is a line drawing that I made into an emulsion screen.

I especially like the details and photographic imagery available with emulsion based printing. This print is derived from a photo of the family cottage.

We will:

• start with paper stencils and a traditional screen, then
• make lots of little stencils with hoop screens
• discover the benefits of using screen filler and drawing fluid to make imagery/screens
• create registration systems that fit your style and needs
• learn to use photo editing to create emulsion screen with EZscreens.

Get support from an online class. Check out the current offerings on the printmaking workshop page.