screen print workshop

The firs workshop was screen printing and was far more scary than expected, because it was the first time we had worked together,and I am sure I wasn't the only one who felt intimidated by plunging in.

Dave Fortune, the screen print technician, gave us a comprehensive introduction to mark-making using Mark-Resist film, and using a variety of pens and pencils. ONce we had all prepared an image on screen (and that was the scary bit) he showed us how to coat a screen with light-sensitive liquid which then dries in the heated drying cabinet, ready for exposing the image onto the screen using the vacuum-assisted UV light box. Once the screens were processed and washed, the image was clear and the screen ready for printing. The studio has about 6 big print tables, with frames to hold the screens securely, making registration relatively simple. The studio uses water-washable inks, with a huge range of colours and no problem about missing your own as required.

My image started out based on a photo I had taken of the hull of the SS Great Britain. What emerged was far more abstract, but did give me a chance to try out a range of types of mark, from fine lines and cross-hatching, edges made by rubbing graphite sticks across the edge of a torn piece of paper, and washes f various strengths of drawing ink. We were advised not to use Indian Ink as it doesn't give a true black finish, as do many black marker pens. The best ones are the ZIG Postern pens which are sold in the shop on site.

Given the nature of my image, I went for safety and used black printing ink. I was fairly happy with the results, and my image with its variety of tones, marks and textures was actually quite a good one to see how different kinds o marks translate into the printed image.