Printmaking

Since my residency in Oaxaca I have been trying to do some screen printing. But before I could I knew I needed to create a larger version of the print I designed while there.

Printed with pericon and indigo

When I got back I had to create a new design, because the dimensions of my screens that I already had didn’t allow me to just scale up.

Once I had my design I had to prep my screens. I had some that I bought a while back that needed new mesh. I went to install the new mesh, but I needed more mesh. So I bought new mesh. Then I couldn’t find my cording or my tool to install the cording. So then I had to order new cording and a tool.

Once I was finally able to install the mesh, I needed to seal the sides with duct tape. Normally I’d color code my screens, but I wanted to use what I had, and also, after the mesh, cording, and tool, I didn’t have money to buy new tape.

So now I was ready to go, after weeks and weeks of trying to get these screens ready. Actually months, because July went to the kids’ birthdays and August I had my won birthday.

Well, I coated the screens, but I did it wrong. (I did both sides, forgetting that I don’t need to do that for exposure, but for the drawing fluid and screen filler.) So I had to clean them and start over. Then I tried multiple times to do an outdoor exposure, but it was NOT working. I think there was a combination of factors, but ultimately I gave up. I ended up handpainting the screens (took hours). I finally did a sample of my new screens and they are PERFECT. Painting them by hand allowed for “the hand” to be visible in the print. Meaning it wasn’t soooo perfect anymore. Which is part of why I prefer to do things by hand in the first place.

Printed with old mixed pigments (not natural)

I am so excited to finally have my screens. I will practice exposing smaller screens for other pieces later, but these screens will be used for backgrounds on larger pieces. I can’t wait to get going. Now I have to make my pigments so I can get started.