Wednesday 16/10/19 - Print Research

Screen-printing

Screen-printing, sometimes called silk screen or serigraphy, is done by pressing ink through a stencilled mesh screen (for example silk though this is more expensive). It's a very popular method of printing and used in many different industries. It is particularly useful for bold posters, artwork, clothing and canvases.

The most common surfaces for screen-printing are fabric and paper though it isn't limited to those. There are also a range of stencilling methods and techniques, this includes using tape, painting the stencil with 'screen blockers' or using a light sensitive emulsion.

When it comes to colour they must be done one at a time, they'll be applied in individual layers with different stencils.

The reason why screen-printing is so popular is because of how vivid the colours turn out and it is easy to reproduce. This is especially useful when it comes to clothing being manufactured.

Banksy

One artist who I particularly admire is Banksy, his work is an amazing combination of satire and activism. He is well known for his street art that makes use of dark humour in combination with his unique stencilling technique. He has said he was inspired by a graffiti artist called 3D (who went on to form the band 'Massive Attack'. One reason I have so much interest in his work is because he keeps anonymity, he has a genuine passion for his work and not for the fame that comes with it. That's one reason I have a lot of respect and adoration for him and his work.

Whilst his main work isn't screen-printing he uses stencils and paint for a lot of his work. Most people believe his work is computer created then made into stencils however due to his anonymous identity it's hard to actually know his technique for work. However, I would love to use screen-printing in future using Banksy as a main influence behind it.