Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Ink on the screen


This past weekend I completed my 1st screen printing course. Short, but sweet. For those of you out there who do not know what screen printing is, here is a quick down and dirty explanation:



1. you start with an image or stencil (see example above).
2. you place that image/stencil on the printing screen (either with adhesive in the case of the stencil or with photo emulsion in the case of the image)
3. Once the screen is ready, then the item that you want to print on must be slightly stretched and attached to a surface for a clean image.
4. Place the screen where you want it on the item you are printing on
5. Choose your inks for printing
6. Use the squeegee to push the ink through the screen to copy the image on to your clothing/fabric
7. Let ink dry
8. Apply heat to the fabric/image to avoid the image from washing off.
9. Wash the clothing item and now it is ready to wear.

Below are some of my newest creations.




Making wearable art seems so intuitive. It places art into the world, a piece of you- who knows the places it may end up. Making art is similar to putting a note in a balloon and letting it be taken by the wind. Someone may find it and then they too will share in your creation, add to it.

How do you put yourself out in the world?