Of all the different printing techniques/processes I’ve tried, screen-printing is the one I’ve struggled the most with, both in terms of making it to the end of the process and in terms of producing work that I actually like. I’ve tried it the long way, at a well equipped, high tech print studio with an experienced technician at art school, and the short way, using a basic home kit, hand cut stencils and an A4 info sheet for guidance. Each way of working had its own setbacks, access to specialist equipment made if difficult to reproduce the high quality prints I achieved at uni and paper stencils getting mushy meant home kits were too clumsy for transferring my illustrations onto fabric neatly. So I stayed away from screen printing.
But, I got some tote bags printed from a screen printer called Brid (Do Make Say Print) not so long ago and when I went to pick them up I noticed that she had an amazing screen-printing station set up in her house. This made me think that maybe, perhaps, possibly I too could achieve something beyond mushy paper and smudged ink designs without having to become a member of an expensive print studio. I shared my thoughts with Brid and asked if I could book a private workshop with her and she said yes (yess).
So, Thursday’s workshop is at Brid’s place learning how to screen print. I spent the afternoon session working with some artwork I had sent Brid earlier in the week and going through a list of things I wanted to learn including; how to prepare art work for screen-printing, step by step how to screen print, how to set up a station and any other tips. Brid had prepared a very excellent check list and resource sheet for me with all the materials I would need, useful links and lots of tips/suggestions. I watched Brid go through all of the steps, made lots of notes and learned about exposing screens, different functions on Illustrator for preparing artwork, inks, registration, how to print onto fabric, how to cure the ink and also many many more things.
Brid was an excellent teacher and I learned way more than I had expected to. Here are some of the final pieces.
Arrange a private session with Brid or send her your print job- http://www.domakesayink.com
