Use photo stencils to incorporate a wide range of textures and painterly effects, as well as photographic and scanned imagery into your work. Explore the possibilities of layering imagery, mark-making, colour and collage. Create dynamic compositions and develop your printmaking skills and knowledge.
You will learn how to incorporate a wide range of printed effects, textures and marks into your work. These can be hand drawn and painted, but can also make use of photographs and found imagery. Although the course is primarily paper-based, it is possible to transfer these skills to work on textiles.
Silk-screen printing is a very accessible medium, essentially a sophisticated form of stencilling. It suits people from many different disciplines and backgrounds from design or pattern-based to fine art-based. It is not essential to have any prior knowledge of computer software like Photoshop to complete the course. Full instructions will be given where appropriate and hand-rendered positives can be used by those who wish to explore their drawing and mark-making. The tutor will advise and suggest the best ways to achieve good results.
On the first evening, there will be an illustrated talk using prints as examples and a quick hands-on demonstration of some of the basic techniques of setting up and printing.
This is a practical course that aims to give you hands-on experience of the photo-stencil process from start to finish. You will be shown how to coat, expose and recycle the screens and how to make successful positives (these are used to transfer the images onto the screen to make a stencil). You will be guided through the process of layering colours to build an image. The process allows you to create stencils with a wide range of graphic and painterly effects and encourages experimentation both with colour and mark-making.
You can expect to complete a series of experimental prints, including at least one multi-layered print that uses opaque and transparent water-based inks to build up a multi-coloured image of your choice. You will also leave with a practical understanding of the potential of the medium for future use.
Included
All inks, screens, materials to make stencils, acetate, film and 25 sheets of A2 220gsm quality cartridge paper per student are provided.
What students need to bring
- Work clothes – printing and cleaning up can be messy
- Source material relevant to your aesthetic interests e.g. sketchbook, photographs or other visual inspiration
- Bring lots of images for inspiration – these could include digital images or photos on a memory stick saved as high resolution jpeg files or imagery from books and magazines and sketchbooks.
- Found objects, such as leaves or fabric, can also be used.
Available to buy
Available from shop:
General art materials, such as pencils, rulers, rubbers, brushes, Sellotape, masking tape, scalpel or craft knife, scissors, brown packaging tape, paper (A2 heavyweight 220gsm smooth surface), newsprint,etc.
Available from tutor:
Some specialist materials, such as mark resist vinyl will be available from the tutor.
Additional information
Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no open toes or sandals).
Arrival day
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration
6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included)
8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential
Daily timetable
Course teaching 9.15am - 5pm (lunch included)
Dinner: from 6.30pm (included for residential students)
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed
Departure day
Course teaching: 9.15am - 3pm (lunch included)
Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am
Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required
