I learned to screen print in a professional printmaking studio. When I saw the screen lifted for the first time, I knew it was for me: the impact, speed and drama of stencil screen printing made me giddy. I was hooked. What’s more, they had all the gear; masses of screens, a huge trough for clean up and a wealth of expensive, technical equipment.
The tricky part was when I got home and had none of that gorgeous equipment to hand. What I had, was one small screen and a similarly small human to look after – so I needed to find ways to practice printmaking that were cheap, fast and quick to reset. Low-tech, simple techniques, so I could practice every day and develop as an artist.
What I found, was that far from it being a mere method of reproduction; stencil screen printing offers the budding print artist / textile designer / embroiderer / illustrator / wood worker / jewellery maker a hugely creative means of delivering colour; allowing you to play endlessly with pattern, texture and form. Over the years, I built up a whole suite of ways to use the screen using tools you already have at home. And I now teach those methods in a class called Creative Screen Printing. In it, we use low-cost, low-tech, playful techniques so you can see just how versatile this small piece of equipment can be.
The class is deliberately designed to empower people to print at home. So: lots of recycled materials, regular acrylic paint and a huge dollop of encouragement. And if you don’t have a screen, you can – oh look, here’s some handy saleswomanship – buy one from me. I have bespoke silk screens made by a small firm in Manchester, using top quality Swiss mesh. Best of all, my screens are the biggest size I could design whilst still fitting comfortably in a kitchen sink for clean up.
Easy screen printing at home – whether you want to make art, print your own textiles or just find a way to express yourself creatively. Because I want you to pick up a silk screen as easily as you might do a pencil. Want to learn how? My next class is on October 5th at Merseyway Workshop – details here.
Testimonials from previous Creative Screen Printing classes are collated here.