Silkscreen Printmaking
Course Description
Summary
Screen printing is an extremely versatile means of reproducing a 2-D image onto a variety of objects. Hand-drawn, painted, photographic and digital images can all be used singularly and in combination with each other. Preparation and processing is relatively simple and multiples can be produced quickly. In this class, we will print with non-toxic, water-based inks.
We will begin by covering the basics: How to stretch, coat and shoot a screen; create a variety of images – from hand-drawn and/or painted stencil screens using screen-filler, to producing film positives for hand-drawn and/or painted images and text, hand-cut stencils, photographic and digital images and text.
Students will learn ink modification and color mixing, experimenting with transparencies, printing a single color, creating split-fountain blends and clean-up. We will cover registration techniques for printing multiple colors/layers and best practices for overprinting on paper. We will explore printing on fabric and the use of repeated patterns, printing on other substrates and monotype printing (producing unique images).
Beginning and experienced screenprinters are welcome to join us.
Learning Outcomes
- Community Building: Learn to work on projects individually and with others in a shared workspace
Learn all aspects of Screen Preparation, cleaning or removing a previously used screen, stretching a new screen, degreasing
Learn to create hand-drawn/painted designs using positive and negative space
Learn the necessary steps to create an image on screen using drawing fluid and screen filler
Learn to prepare a screen and print with one colour of water-soluble ink on paper
Learn to clean off screen filler to re-use a screen
Learn to use coat and expose a screen with photo emulsion and expose light-opaque, hand-drawn imagery
Learn to use coat and expose a screen with photo emulsion expose an image with Rubylith stencils
Learn to create digital imagery and positive-working films
Learn to use coat and expose a screen with photo emulsion expose digital imagery with positive-working films
Learn about colour-mixing, use of transparent and opaque inks and CMYK-4-colour separations
Learn to create split fountain blends
Learn how to clean emulsion off a screen for re-use
Learn basic registration techniques and ink modification for printing multiple colours/layers
Learn to print on paper, fabric and experiment with other substrates
Learn monoprinting techniques with water-soluble crayons and hand cut/torn stencils