Technique - Drawing Fluid and Filler
For the second technique we'll consider Drawing Fluid. The technique is fast, easy and is best suited for images that need to have a hand-painted feel. The set up is easy. Using a clear screen, simply apply the drawing fluid directly on the screen. Make sure the back of the screen is not touching anything. If the back of the screen touches another object, the drawing fluid will give an unpredictable image as it flows along the places of contact. A good trick is to tape cardboard spacers to the back of the screen frame. Doing this will hold the screen up and off the work surface. Use Drawing Fluid just like you would ink or paint. Drawing fluid is a positive process. Where the drawing fluid is applied will be where the ink will go on your print. The image does not have to be completed in one session so take your time!
Different ways to use Drawing Fluid.
If you are more comfortable tracing from an image, place it under the screen, again, taking care care not to allow your image to touch the screen. Apply the drawing fluid on the screen directly and execute your trace. You will be able to see your original through the screen well enough to get a very good tracing.
Of course you could go "Picasso" and paint directly on the screen without a guide image. In fact, drawing Fluid doesn't even require a brush. Any method of application is satisfactory as long as the screen material isn't damaged in the process. Get creative! Perhaps a cut stencil tacked to the screen and a splatter of Drawing fluid applied with a toothbrush? It's all good!
Adding the Screen Filler.
Drawing Fluid is a water-soluble mask. Screen Filler will need to be removed with stripper. This is the ideal combination since the Drawing Fluid will prevent Screen Filler from sticking to the screen. This will allow the Drawing Fluid to wash out of the screen with water, while the filler remains. Sweet!
The process: After the Drawing Fluid has dried, use a squeegee to evenly spread Screen Filler over your Drawing Fluid image. Spread this out to about four inches around the Drawing Fluid image. Four inches does not have to be a precise measurement. Simply give enough filled area around your image to easily tape off the unfilled areas of open screen. Keep in mind that the more filler you add now, the more will need to be cleaned out later. Covering the entire screen in filler, while effective, means a lot of clean up during reclamation. Tape is much faster to remove. After the Screen Filler has been applied, let it dry and then wash out your screen. As you are washing the screen, your original image will appear in the filler. This will be where the screen will pass ink to your final print! Sometimes the Filler will not completely wash out of spaces where the Drawing Fluid was a bit thin. You can lightly scrub out the area with a magic eraser. Be careful though, enough scrubbing can start to knock out the screen filler. It's tough but not permanent.
Different ways to use Drawing Fluid.
If you are more comfortable tracing from an image, place it under the screen, again, taking care care not to allow your image to touch the screen. Apply the drawing fluid on the screen directly and execute your trace. You will be able to see your original through the screen well enough to get a very good tracing.
Of course you could go "Picasso" and paint directly on the screen without a guide image. In fact, drawing Fluid doesn't even require a brush. Any method of application is satisfactory as long as the screen material isn't damaged in the process. Get creative! Perhaps a cut stencil tacked to the screen and a splatter of Drawing fluid applied with a toothbrush? It's all good!
Adding the Screen Filler.
Drawing Fluid is a water-soluble mask. Screen Filler will need to be removed with stripper. This is the ideal combination since the Drawing Fluid will prevent Screen Filler from sticking to the screen. This will allow the Drawing Fluid to wash out of the screen with water, while the filler remains. Sweet!
The process: After the Drawing Fluid has dried, use a squeegee to evenly spread Screen Filler over your Drawing Fluid image. Spread this out to about four inches around the Drawing Fluid image. Four inches does not have to be a precise measurement. Simply give enough filled area around your image to easily tape off the unfilled areas of open screen. Keep in mind that the more filler you add now, the more will need to be cleaned out later. Covering the entire screen in filler, while effective, means a lot of clean up during reclamation. Tape is much faster to remove. After the Screen Filler has been applied, let it dry and then wash out your screen. As you are washing the screen, your original image will appear in the filler. This will be where the screen will pass ink to your final print! Sometimes the Filler will not completely wash out of spaces where the Drawing Fluid was a bit thin. You can lightly scrub out the area with a magic eraser. Be careful though, enough scrubbing can start to knock out the screen filler. It's tough but not permanent.
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