Screen Printing - New Fun With Old Trees

My first CMYK print.  A combination of hand drawing and scanned images prepared for four color process printing.  Of all the printing tricks and techniques CMYK prints are the most fun.

For this project a portion of a photograph was scanned and color separations made in Photoshop.  Screens then created for each "plate" in a process color print.  The leaf dot size was set a 4px while the black background was set at 8px. The Original Photograph An Intermediate Step: Processing in Software. The Final Print

This was one of my beginning projects and uses a single screen, drawing fluid and screen block for the catfish.  A hand cut stencil was taped to a screen for the background pattern.  No emulsion, exposure equipment or computers were used for this project.

"Season's End" was created to feature a subject using only shapes and minimal use of lines.  It was framed and subsequently sold a auction.

"The Ace of Pentacles" was created for a show where the tarot card subject was drawn at random.  The artist was tasked with creating a new card for an original deck.  In this case, a new Ace of Pentacles.

Learning another printing technology. A first attempt at printing on fabric.  Four color water based textile ink.  Tea towels used here, cheaper than t-shirts for first try stuff!

Making Idea Pads / Sketchbooks A practical solution for scraps, misprints or good prints!

Learning a new printing process.  Actually several new techniques.  In addition to the cylinder printer setup and tune I had the opportunity to work with a two part epoxy ink requiring heat setting.  The mug on the left has cooled while the right side mug is out-of-the-oven hot.  The ink brightens as it cools and takes five days to completely cross link.  This print should be tough enough to run through the dishwasher.

Project: Split Fountain Prints. This example features a "split fountain" ink technique where two colors of  ink are placed on one screen and allowed to mix when pulling the ink through the mesh.  The dark grey to light grey fade in the water is the result of this technique.  Split fountains work best when pulling the ink in such a way as to minimize mixing.  This print was orientated and printed in portrait to keep the mixing in the center.  The only limit on how many colors can be used in a split fountain print is the width of the media. There has to has room for your chosen colors! There are some beautiful examples using as many as seven colors to generate stunning rainbow fades.