Deconstructed Screen Printing Session
My local group had our annual retreat in early September. We go out to a lovely lodge on Little Bitterroot Lake and spend a couple of days creating and playing with art stuff. This photo is from sometime in the past. Sadly, this year, the air was full of smoke and you could barely see the mountains across the water. This year, our activities included deconstructed screen printing, making a book and creating some “faux” rice paper.
These are a few of the paper prints that I created. Deconstructed screen printing is done with a previously prepared screen in which the thickened dye has been left to dry. Then you use more thickened dye or plain print paste to release the dried dye from the screen. It is a serendipitous process and you are never sure what you will get in the final prints. I teach this process on felt in my online class.
I usually use fairly thick paper so that I can wash out the thickener that is left on the paper. That way I can do other processes on top of the paper without it running. These are similar to some of the papers that I used in my recent collage challenge.
One of the fun things about the paper is that you can end up using either side. The photo on the left shows the front side of the printed paper and the right photo is the back side.
Here are some of the fabric pieces that I printed. If you click on the individual photos, you can see what type of fabric I used. The little scraps on the top left photo are what was left over after I used a piece of printed hemp canvas for the cover of my book.
These prints are all on silk. The left side is silk habotai, the middle is silk organza and the right side photo is the silk organza layered over the habotai. You could print on many types of silk and this would be a great way to create your own fabric for using in nuno felting.
I will be using these for my upcoming classes that I am taking as backgrounds for stitching, in collages and wherever else suits my fancy.
Next time, I will show you the book that I created while at the retreat. It’s not entirely finished but you will be able to see the deconstructed screen printed canvas as the cover and a piece of printed paper as the inside covers.
20 thoughts on “Deconstructed Screen Printing Session”
Pity about the smoke as the view must be one of the good things about the retreat, but what a fun way to meet friends and build up your stash!
Thanks! We always have such a great time so we ignored the smoke and had a wonderful time.
Loving the prints on silk, especially the effect when they are layered together, that is really unusual and surprising. Can’t wait to see how you will use them!
Thanks Teri. I really love creating patterns on silk organza and then trying it out over other colors. You can get some great colors that way. I think it would be interesting to try Nuno felt with some of the silk too.
That’s interesting Ruth. I didn’t realise that you could reactivate the dried ink/paint on a screen.
Looking forward to hearing about the book – and I’d like to know how to make faux ricepaper too!
Ann
Thanks Ann, you can only reactivate the dried, thickened dye. If you leave paint or printing ink in the screen, it will ruin your screen. It doesn’t wash out.
The faux rice paper is easy. If I remember, I will post a link to the video we followed. Won’t be until November though.
Looks like another very productive retreat Ruth. This is a technique I’ve been meaning to try, I’ve got the “Committed to Cloth” book, screen, dye, paste, etc, etc…..just need to put them to use! Looking forward to seeing the book you made,
Thanks Karen, go for it! This is one of my favorite techniques that I use again and again. It makes the most interesting prints.
It is a pity about the smoke ruining that beautiful view. Thankfully it did not impede creativity.
You have some really exciting outcomes here Ruth, I’m looking forward to your next post.
Thanks Helene, we don’t let smoke get in the way of creativity at all! I do love the results from this process, such fun.
Oooohh fun! I have never tried this process so will add it to my to-do list. I think I have some books on it.
It is fun Tesi! It’s kind of messy but the results are always unpredictable and fun.
Lovely creative pieces, as ever, Ruth. And the retreat sounds both satisfying and fun. Quite envious!
Thanks Lindsay, I love our retreat. It’s only the four of us but we always have a great time.
Oh, a retreat just to be creative with like minded folk….how blissfully relaxing. Please put my name down for your next one 😉🤪
Your results are wonderful. With your first group of photos I had a favourite, then came your next set of photos & I had a new favourite & so it continued!
Looking forward to seeing how you use each piece & of course your book.
Your faux rice paper….was it pasted tissue paper?
Thanks Antje, our retreat is wonderful. You are welcome to join us, we have already set the September dates for next year. The book post is coming up so stay tuned. The faux rice paper was made with tissue paper (or napkins) and adding matte medium with other colorants. It’s simple to make.
Great prints, Ruth. Can’t wait to see your book. This is on my list of things to do. Maybe I can get Jan and Bernadette interested in a play day in the new year. I want to see the faux rice paper too.
Thanks Ann, the book will be coming soon 😉 I think you, Jan and Bernadette would enjoy this process, it’s always so unpredictable. I will try and look up the faux rice paper link.
Ooh, lovely things you got there, Ruth! I really like “uneven” prints and rectangular shapes, I kept thinking how much I’d love to have some of those silk lovelies in paper form to put in my collage notebook.
Also, faux rice paper? Show us!
Thanks Leonor! The paper is great and is perfect for collage. Here’s the link for the faux rice paper:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EY4rcfdUX8