Techniques - Printing

These last two weeks I have been busy in workshops and free time exploring the media and different methods of printing. The study of different media, printing being one of them broadens my knowlege and ability to use this media in my work.

First of all is screen printing. Screen printing involves cutting out stencils and laying them down over the printing surface. A stretched fabric screen is then put on top. A mixture of printing medium and acrylic paint is dragged across the fabric screen. Other stencils allow you to make multiple coloured prints. I liked this medium as it produces nice and sharp shapes and edges. Andy Warhol was a famous user of this method of printing.

Another form of printing is deconstructive screen printing. This is very similar to normal screen printing, using the same equipment, but different technique. Firstly to create this form of printing you need a colliagraph this is a textured surface which goes under the the screen. Thick ink is dragged across the top leaving a a textured imprint on to the screen. Once this has dried the screen is then laid over the top of the surface and soda ash is dragged over the top which releases the ink on to the printing surface. After a certain amount of times the ink eventually comes all off and less and less of the pattern is printed. I liked the process however it was very messy with varying results. An artist notable for her work in this media of printing is Victoria Crow.

We also looked at mono printing in the workshops we did this by having a thin mixture of oil paint and printing medium on a board. Paper is then put over the board and an image drawn on the paper, pushing that area of paper into the ink. Another method of monoprinting is by removing ink from the board to form an image puting paper on the board then prints the image on to the paper. I did like enjoy the printing as it has nice neat line. Tracey Enem is an artist well known for this form of printing.

I have also learnt about transfer printing. This involved having pieces of paper painted with transfer paint, once they are dry you cut out the desired shapes and put on the printing surface, then iron. This can be done on most surfaces and works very well on fabric. I liked the primary colours used as it reminds me of childrens building blocks.

Lino printing was the last form of printing that we learnt about but to do this we needed to learn how to create a repeating pattern we did this by drawing in the centre and then cutting in half and stick together the opposite way round drawing in the centre do this horizontally and vertically to create a repeat pattern. once the repeat pattern is made I then traced it onto the lino to be cut out. when the lino is cut out I was able to use the mix of oil paint and print medium and push down on the surface. I liked the repeat pattern side of this but I wasn't as keen on the lino printing as it was rather difficult when you had a complex pattern to cut out.

Ienjoyed the workshops and found them informative on printing and has allowed me to use this media and different techniques in more of my own independent work.