Introduction toScreenprintingPresented by: Keira Dooley

What is Screenprinting?

Screenprinting involves "pushing" ink through a screen over a stencil.

It is also known as silkscreen

Anatomy of Screenprinting

A. Ink

B. Squeegee

C. Positive image on the screen

D. Negative space on the screen

E. Frame

F. The printed image on paper

Screenprinting Methods

Stencil TechniquesCut stencils - cutting the design from a non-porous material and attaching it to the bottom of the screen

Painted stencils - painting a negative image directly on the screen with a filler material

Photo Emulsion Technique

Cut Stencils

The cut stencil method can be used with kraft paper, contact paper or acetate film.

The image is cut away from the stencil using an exacto knife.

Positive vs. Negative Space

As we cut our stencils, we want to be mindful of the positive and negative space within our images.

The positive spaces that you cut out of the stencil will allow the screenprinting ink to pass through the screen to the paper.

Negative Space

PositiveSpace

Painted Stencils

Screen filler is handpainted onto the screen in the negative areas.

Photo Emulsion Method

Photo emulsion is applied to the screen. Once dry, then the screen is exposed to bright light, thus “burning” the negative film image into the screen.

Photographic negatives or computer images are commonly used.

http://www.hobbydo.com/screen_printing/preparing_the_screen.htm

Photo Emulsion Exposure Unit

Commercial Screenprinting

Silkscreen Postersin History

Propaganda PostersWorld War 1 posters: (from left) U.K., USA and Russia.

WPA PostersWork Projects Administration (WPA) posters were produced in America between 1936 and 1943 in the District of Columbia and seventeen states.

The posters depict various programs and projects sponsored by the government.

WPA Posters

Silkscreen Posters in the Art World

Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art.

Roy Lichtenstein

Roy Lichtenstein was a prominent American pop artist. His work was heavily influenced by both popular advertising and the comic book style.

John Baldessari

John Baldessari is an American conceptual artist. His work often attempts to point out irony in contemporary art theory and practices or reduce it to absurdity.

Barbara Kruger

Barbara Kruger is an American conceptual artist. Much of her text questions the viewer about feminism, consumerism, and individual autonomy and desire, although her black-and-white images are culled from the mainstream magazines that sell the very ideas she is disputing.

Barbara Kruger

Shepard FaireyFrank Shepard Fairey is an American contemporary artist, graphic designer, and illustrator who emerged from the skateboarding scene and is currently active in Cincinnati, Ohio.

He first became knownfor his "André the Giant Has a Posse" (OBEY) sticker campaign

Shepard Fairey

Do It Yourself!With a few simple guidelines, you can screenprint at home!

9 Basic Steps

1. Plan your image. Think about positive and negative space, as well as color and image size.

2. Cut the stencil. Draw then cut your image “read right” on the back of the contact paper.

3. Measure and tear your good paper and some newsprint paper.

4. Apply the stencil to the flat side of the screen.

5. Mix your inks. (use small amounts of colors when mixing.)

6. Prep the printing space. Clamp the screen tightly & tape a sheet of acetate to the table under the screen.

7. Print! (newsprint, acetate, good paper)

8. Sign, date and title your prints!

9. Clean up!

Screenprinting Suppliers

Art Supply Warehouse: (Westminster)http://www.artsupplywarehouse.com

Blick Art Materials: http://www.dickblick.com

McLogan Supply Company: (Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Diego, Chatsworth) http://www.mclogan.com

References

Library of Congress http://loc.gov

Wikipedia

War posters http://www.firstworldwar.com/posters