My first print!

It takes so much longer that I would have expected to cut a template. This actually took me nearly an entire class to cut. But I was adamant that I wanted something made. Something that I could say I printed. It's a whole new process, and although I have done mono-type printing myself this year, screen system is a really practical hands on experience. It was one of the reasons that I wanted to work on this project to begin with. The physicality of making and learning the steps involved. 

I started with a pretty simple design. A sharp edge and good clean lines create a much better print according to the group.

It feel's like an unfair thing to say, but at one point I did feel that maybe we would teach them more than they would teach us....but boy I was wrong. Within the StudioPrinting, the guys there had a head start on the process, and they made fantastic tutors to us newcomers. Two of the men in the group in particular seem to really embrace teaching us, and are incredibly good at it. As I mentioned in the first post, I really was not expecting it. It's important that we work as a group, and with this project in particular I think it's all about how we work together. No one person is in charge. No one person makes the rules and everyone respects each others opinions.

My very first print, which the guys helped me to print. I made some mistakes but they tell me this will improve with some practice. It's loosely a space design. A very simple nebula in pink with little stars in yellow.

Basic Steps of Screen Printing:

1.Cut your design (We used Newsprint and cutting knives today)

2.Get a clean screen.

3.Use gum tape to seal the sides of the screen on both sides (I will upload images very soon)

4.Use adhesive to stick the template to the screen (with extra care of small, fiddly parts of the design)

5.Flood the screen with the pigment using the squeegee.

6.Allow the first layer to dry before screening the next.

I will have a full photo post on this process.

These were the templates of my design.