Printmaking Overview Agenda Susan Rostow will provide an in-depth overview of Akua Inks and Accessories and 1:15-2:00 demonstrate its unique working properties through the creation of a monoprint. Attendees will learn how Akua products not only open the possibilities to printmakers, but also how they are ideally suited within Speedball’s printmaking portfolio. Hand-on Demonstration! Each attendee will have opportunity to complete the block 2:00-2:45 printing technique from start to finish while learning the many pieces and parts to the Speedball Block Printing portfolio. Screen Printing is easy as 1-2-3! Participants will learn the 3 methods of screen printing 2:45-3:45 and the advantages of each while getting to first-hand experience the butterflies of screen printing by being able to pull a print! BLOCK PRINTING BLOCK PRINTING Block or Relief Printing is one of the simplest and oldest forms of printmaking. Basic Tools Printing Carving Tools Ink Brayer Pressure Substrate/Media Block/Surface Keywords/Definitions • RELIEF/BLOCK PRINT: A means of making prints by creating a raised design on a flat surface. The design is inked on covered with color and stamped on paper or another surface. Commonly done on wood (“woodcut”), linoleum (“linocut”) or soft block surfaces • BRAYER: A small, hand-held rubber roller used to spread printing ink evenly on a surface before printing. Soft rubber brayers are best for applying ink to substrate. • BENCH HOOK: A metal or wooden plate with a raised edge on each end (opposite sides) to hold a woodcut or linocut in place on a table while cutting. Can also be used to roll ink out with brayer prior to applying to block. • BAREN: A round, smooth pad, either flat or slightly convex, used to press paper against an inked wood or linoleum block to facilitate more uniform ink transfer from block to paper. BLOCK PRINTING Printing Carving Tools Ink Brayer Pressure Substrate/Media Block/Surface Soft Block Standard Water-Soluble Soft Rubber Baren Paper Linoleum Linozips Oil-Based Hard Rubber Etching Press Fabric Fabric Acrylic Professional Foam BLOCK PRINTING Demo Kit / Contents Everything you need to conduct a hands-on demo for 4-6 people. Item # Description Quantity 004118 SPEEDY CARVE BLOCK 6 x 12 1 004132 #2 LINO CUTTER ASSORTMENT 2 003500 75CC WS BLOCK INK BLACK 1 004117 4” POP-IN SOFT RUBBER BRAYER 2 004142 THE RED BAREN 1 004324 BLOCK INK PAPER/MULBERRY 1 NICE TO HAVE… R430121 715 9X12 50 MULTIPALLET 6/266 1 0010741 065583 CHACOPAPER WHITE 1 DON’T FORGET… Baby wipes, pencils/pens, and aprons. BLOCK PRINTING Preparation 1. Cut the 6x12 Speedy-Carve piece into (6) 3x4 pieces. 2. Cut the 9x12 Mulberry Paper in quarters creating (4) 4.5x6 pieces. 3. Cut the 17.5x11.75 Chacopaper into 3x4 pieces. 4. Prepare a few simple artwork designs for shy creatives – keep it simple! BLOCK PRINTING Step One: Have participants draw directly onto their Speedy-Carve block or provide them the chacopaper so they can trace/transfer their desired design. You can also use a slightly warm iron to transfer images from a freshly printed laser or inkjet printer paper. Remember designs with words or copy will print in reverse – you need to create the mirror image. Step Two: Carve your desired design using Speedball linoleum cutters. The portion of the block you carve away becomes unprinted white space in the final printed image; the raised portion is what prints in ink. A bench hook is always recommended for new users – carve away…literally We suggest participants practice by making cuts in an area of the block that will not be part of the design to get use to the linoleum cutters and amount of pressure needed. If you can’t see the upper edges of your blade above the rubber, you are digging too deep. BLOCK PRINTING Step Three: Add approximately a tablespoon of ink onto your multi-palette paper and using the soft rubber brayer roll out an even coat of ink. Next, roll the inked brayer onto your raised design of your Speedy-Carve block. Should you got a bit too inky –s imply wipe off any ink from your block that is not part of your desired design. Step Four: Take a piece of the Mulberry Paper and apply it to the top of your Speedy-Carve block. Using the baren or your hand apply even pressure to the paper – this will transfer the ink from your Speedy-Carve block to your paper. Starting in a corner, slowly lift off the paper to reveal your own block printed artwork! BLOCK PRINTING Let’s get started… SCREEN PRINTING SCREEN PRINTING As the leader in screen printing, our goal is to inspire someone try screen printing by making it convenient, understandable, and an enjoyable experience! SCREEN PRINTING Practically speaking, screen printing is not a complicated process! It is nothing more than pushing a think layer of ink through a stencil image on a fabric screen Basic Tools Frame/Screen Squeegee Ink Substrate/Media Stencil Creation Printing SCREEN PRINTING SCREEN PRINTING SCREEN PRINTING 1. Logo (Company/Brand recognition) Merchandised 2. Educate (Level / Color distinction) Front Panel facing 3. Connect (Screen Printing Kit) 4. Inspire (Appealing Image) Merchandised Top Panel facing Increased education Amplified inspiration Consistency/flow of artwork Cut Paper Stencil Method . Teaches user concept of screen printing by creating a basic stencil . Fastest and easiest way to start screen printing! . Promotes high success rate . Provides stencil flexibility - very basic to detailed . Graphics 360 Marker Paper allows for upwards of 50+ prints pulled SCREEN PRINTING Step One: With a pencil, draw your image (design) on a sheet of Bienfang Graphics 360 paper. Allow for at least a 2” margin on all sides between your image and the inside of your screen frame. Step Two: Using a craft/utility knife cut your drawn image out, creating your paper stencil. We recommend cutting on top of cutting mat or other safe cutting surface. Step Three: Position your paper stencil under your screen. Scoop out and add a few tablespoons of ink along the top of the screen (farthest from you). Do not lay any ink on your design or open mesh. SCREEN PRINTING Step Four: PRINT STROKE Place your squeegee behind the ink, tilted approximately 60 degrees in order to create a sharp print edge. Pull the squeegee toward you and across your image, evenly applying as much pressure as it might require to open a heavy door. Stop your pull BEFORE you reach the bottom of the screen. Lift your screen slightly to separate the screen from your print surface. Step Five: FLOOD STROKE Lift your squeegee, and place it in FRONT of the bead of ink. Applying light to no pressure at all, “flood” the ink back over your screen and image, towards the top of the screen. Finish your flood stroke BEFORE you reach the top of the screen, lift your squeegee, and lean it against the back of the screen, behind the ink. Lift your screen and…experience the miracle of screen printing! Drawing Fluid & Screen Filler Method . Introduction into use of fluids for stencil creation . Allows user to leverage use of painterly technique/effect . Creates permanent (until reclaimed) stencil to pull hundreds of prints SCREEN PRINTING Step One: You can either sketch your image out on paper first, or lightly draw your artwork directly onto the screen. Allow for at least a 2” margin on all sides between your image and the inside of your screen. Lay your screen face down on a flat work surface. If you are tracing a sketch, place your sketch under the screen. Using drawing fluid and a paintbrush, paint your desired image onto your screen. Once done, let your screen dry completely. Anything drawn with drawing fluid will become your printed image. Try not to let the drawing fluid collect and drip through the screen, or become too thick. Step Two: Stir the screen filler thoroughly. (Over time, it will settle forming a white layer on top.) Working over a sink, carefully drizzle a small amount of screen filler along one end of your frame onto the same side of the screen as your drawing fluid. With a SINGLE PASS of your squeegee, coat the entire screen including your drawn image. Once done, let your screen dry completely. The purpose of screen filler is to coat all areas of the screen which you do not want to print. Do not let the screen filler become too thick or drip through the screen. SCREEN PRINTING Step Three: Once the screen filler is completely dry, rinse your screen front and back with cold or room temperature water. As you continue to rinse your screen, the blue drawing fluid will begin to wash away from underneath the screen filler and reveal your painted stencil. Hold your screen to the light to check on the quality of your stencil. Once you have effectively washed out your image, set your screen aside and let your screen dry one last time. If some portions of your stencil are not washing out, scrub gently with a non-soapy scrub brush. Conversely, portions of your stencil which are unintentionally washing away can be touched up and patched with tape or screen filler once your screen is dry. Step Four: PRINT STROKE Place your squeegee behind the ink, tilted approximately 60 degrees in order to create a sharp print edge. Pull the squeegee toward you and across your image, evenly applying as much pressure as it might require to open a heavy door.