Screen printing made easy

monotype print / /

screen prints that are possible with the thermofax kit by linda germainYou can do it!

You are familiar with the idea of screen printing. Everyone has a screen printed T-shirt. Maybe you are even familiar with Andy Warhol’s famous screen prints as shown below.

Screen shot Google search Warhol

The idea is simple. You push/pull ink through tiny holes in a design on a screen. The trick is to get the design on the screen.

Thermo Fax machine for screen printingThermofax machines do this for us. And you do not need the expensive machine to get started.

I have the machine and I made a starter kit for you. You can be screen printing by the end of the week.

8 piece Thermofax Screen starter
8 piece Thermofax Screen starter kit with Pulling Screen Prints the online printmaking course with Linda Germain

This starter kit gives you the 8 designs shown above. They are great for small projects. You can prints, cards, mixed media projects, t-shirts and more.

Video: Screen Printing made easy with Thermofax kit

Watch the motion of my hand. It is so easy to make the print

This Kit is no longer available.

  • Show you how to cut, tape and stabilize  the screens
  • Print with the screens
  • Choose substrates to print on
  • Get you started

You will also get information on how to set up your workspace and clean and care for  your new screens.

This Kit is no longer available.

A table cover, scarf, note cards and handbag all made with the thermofax screen starter kit images.

thermofax screen printing kit projects by linda germain

 

Generally I advise folks to use proper screen printing ink so that the ink does not dry too fast and ruin the screen. But a recent shopping trip revealed that the local craft stores are not carrying basic screen printing ink. I am so disappointed.

That lead me to experiment with acrylic craft paint. And I will say that is it possible to print with the craft paint BUT you MUST clean the screen IMMEDIATELY. So the ink does not dry in the holes and ruin your screen. And I do I mean immediately.

screen printing with thermofax screen and acrylic paint breaking the rules

All craft paints are different and the cheaper they are the more water they have and the less pigment. I liked how the Martha Stewart satin worked. If the paint is too watery it can not hold the edge.

Another alternative is to order the Golden screen printing medium, mix that with you acrylic craft paint and you should be good to go.

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Printing on Fabric Pillow with stencils

fabric prints / /

Hand printed pillow covers - Linda Germain

This past week I was making hand printed fabric pillow covers. It was fun to hand draw the text on to freezer paper. Then cut out and iron on to the fabric.

I recycled the pillow forms from local thrift stores and Extra’s For creative Reuse. The fabric was a table cloth and curtain panel.

Freezer paper stencil used to print pillow covers

Freezer paper can be ironed on to the fabric to be used as a one time stencil. It is easy to cut too.

Color tests for hand printing fabric

I did quick color tests on a scrap piece of fabric. I think that all the colors work. It just depends on the message and effect that I want to create. Subtle colors are good to use at the beginning because they hide mistakes.

The next class that I will be offering is Monoprinting Fabric. Check out the details and mark your calendar.

Want to Hand Print Unique Fabric?

Join today and get notice of future classes.

You will also get weekly emails about printmaking, tips, tools and classes.

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Boundaries Create Space to succeed

inspiration / /

As mixed media artists we love lots of different media and methods. We love to explore and combine tools and materials in a myriad of ways. That is what makes our art work unique.

Gelatin monotype print with ink and masking stencils linda germain

But for me that love of “everything” finds me wandering around my studio from one idea to the next and never quite finishing anything.

I made a decision that is helping me to complete some work. This one boundary actually gives me just enough structure to create some freedom to play.

Stencils for pulling monotypes on the gel plate

This is the one boundary that I have given myself with my mixed media printmaking projects:

  1. I am working in a fixed size, 5″ x 7″.
  2. This gives me freedom to play and low risk because is it just an inexpensive piece of paper.
  3. It also frees me up because I know that when I do finish the piece it will be a easy to frame standard size. Finishing and framing is often a hurdle for me.
  4. I now know that any stencils that I cut will be cut to fit on that 5″ x 7″ paper.

What about you? Do you use boundaries to set yourself up for success?

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What is a stencil?

techniques / /

I am in my little art world and think that everyone knows what I am talking about when I use words like stencil, monotype, and gelatin plate printing.

Not True!

So I am here to demystify some of the art terms the I use everyday.

Stencil – A cut out design, through which you “push” ink to make a print or impression.

traditional stencil used to print a design - Linda Germain
traditional stencil used to print a design – Linda Germain

Stenciling – gently applying ink to a surface through the hole in a cut out design. Usually ink is thinly applied with a brush or sponge.

(example below )

Screen Printing on Fabric napkins - Linda Germain

Masking stencil – is a cut out shape the block the transfer of ink to the paper or fabric or other printing surface.

(examples below)

Masking stencils for printmaking get stronger as I use them

Print – is an impression, mark that is made under pressure. It is an indirect mark that creates a design.

(example below)

Gelatin and glycerin plate print by linda germain
detail impression

Printmaking without a press – was of printing that don’t require a press, types include, screen printing, relief printing, stamping, stenciling rubbings, and gelatin plate monotype printmaking.

(Example below is a relief print)

relief print by linda germain

Monotype – is a one of a kind print that is made without some sort of repeatable matrix/design.

(example below)

painted monotype on glycerin plate by linda germain
painted monotype on glycerin plate by linda germain

Monoprint – is a one of a kind print that is made with a repeatable matrix/design (i.e. an etching or block print is primary part of the print with extra one of a kind marks)

(example below the face is a screen print that can be repeated)

Drawing Fluid method screen print over brayer marks
Drawing Fluid method screen print over brayer marks

Gelatin plate monotype print – one of a kind print that is made by transferring ink from the surface of a soft, spongy plate of gelatin to paper with hand pressure.

(examples below except the tree on the right is a Thermofax print on top of a gelatin plate print)

Gelatin Plate Monotype Prints on display by Linda Germain

Print in process on the gelatin plate

Print in process on the gelatin plate
Print in process on the gelatin plate

Screen printing – process where the stencil design is attached to a screen with very fine mesh. Then ink is pulled across the tight screen with a squeegee and the ink them goes through the tiny holes onto the paper, fabric or other printing surface.

(examples below)

Thermofax Screen printing kit for Pulling Screen Prints the online Printing course

Thermofax Screen Printing – A Thermofax machine is an old heat based type of copy machine. It can create small detailed designs to be used by artists and crafter. The beauty of this method is that photographic images and detail drawings can be converted into a screen in a matter of seconds and the results are reliable. The way it works is that a carbon based drawing is sandwiched with the emulsion coated screen and run through the machine. The heat of the machine, melts the emulsion and creates the stencil. The machines and roll of emulsion are expensive. But you can find Thermofax screen sellers all over the internet. They make the screen for you and send it to you. I have a kit of 8 screens and the how to get started videos that you can buy.

(examples below)

Thermofax screen print over rusted cotton
Thermofax dragon fly card

Check out the current printmaking workshops that I am offering.

What is a stencil? Read More »

ART made with Stencils – watch the video

stencils / /

Stencils are the foundation of all the printmaking that I do. Check out the video.

I use stencils in 3 different ways:
  1. Traditional stencil – push the ink through a hole in the stencil
  2. Masking stencil – where the stencil blocks the transfer of ink and
  3. Combined with the Gelatin plate I use the stencil to transfer the ink to the plate

I am so excited to be offering the new Make Stencils Workshop. It is an online printmaking class in which we will be transformed from a store bought stencil user to a stencil artist, developing your own images and creating one of a kind artwork.

Class starts soon. Check out the details and join us today.

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