About

Make several repeatable prints that we’ll test on paper using water-based ink and silkscreens. Screen printing is an ancient method of transferring pigment to a surface and photo emulsion screen printing is a technique that uses a light-sensitive substance to create a stencil on a screen and transfer an image onto a surface.

Your instructor, an experienced print maker, will guide you through every step combining new and old technology as you explore using Photoshop to alter images or create your own digital or hand-drawn positives, expose them onto the emulsion-coated screen with light, and create your screen print stencil. All aspects of screen printing will be covered including materials, setting up the screen for printing, types of inks to use, and finishing techniques. The agenda for the day:

• Brief talk about the history of screen printing, what types of imagery you can expect from different methods, and how to use the screen for a range of results, including ink selection for non-paper substrates like glass.
• Demonstration of simple Photoshop procedures including how to make a half-tone or black-and-white image ready to expose on the emulsion.
• Demonstration of proper set up including screen prep and image design.
• You'll create images and expose your screens.
• After a lunch break, you'll print your designs.
• After cleanup, we'll have a show-and-tell session!

Details

• Dress for a mess! Dyes and ink can stain, so wear dark clothing or clothes you don't mind getting stained. You can bring an apron if you like.
• Bring a bag lunch. A refrigerator and microwave are available for your use on the lower level.

Details

• A  $38 materials fee, included in the cost of the class, covers everything you'll need, including a screen you'll keep and ink and paper that will be used during the class.
• You should bring:
  • Reference imagery or printouts, no bigger than four-inch square.
  • A laptop if you can and would like to convert images to half-tone for printing.
  • We'll test our screens on paper during the class, and some fabric offcuts may be available for testing,too. If you’d like, you can bring a T-shirt or tote on which to test your screen.

Class Policies

Ages 14 and up are welcome.