Painterly silk-screen printing with Jane Sampson

Ref: SLW32944

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About this course

Be inspired to use the silk-screen as a matrix through which to investigate combinations of different media such as paint, graphite and pastel. Create spontaneous monoprints without a stencil and free up your creative potential.

Course Description

Silk-screen printing is most often associated with hard-edged, brightly coloured blocky images or Pop Art, and the looser more painterly side often gets neglected. It is, however, possible to use the screen as a drawing tool and in a much more spontaneous way than stencilling flat layers of colour one layer at a time.

By monoprinting through the screen, the limitations of screen printing become boundaries within which to play with combinations of flat colour and mark-making. You can make one-off images or build up prints with layers. The screen becomes a matrix through which to explore different media such as paint, graphite and pastel, creating one off monoprints or a series of similar prints that explore a theme. In effect, they hover somewhere between painting, drawing and printmaking.

The course will begin with a short talk and examples of prints, followed by a technical demonstration of the basics of setting-up and printing at your workstation. Mixing paint and medium will be discussed.

There will be a demonstration using acrylic paint and water-based pastel, and you will spend time experimenting with media as a single layer and a multi-layered set of prints. You will explore the use of soft pencils and graphite for mark-making and drawing through the screen. Use of watercolour, gouache or poster colour will also be introduced. There will be a summary as a group, taking time to look at what you have achieved, and suggest or discuss next steps. The latter half of the course will be dedicated to combining the different media in ways that are suited to the kind of images that you would like to create, and based on your experience so far.

It is expected that individuals may choose to take different paths and use different subject matter, achieving quite different visual outcomes on this course, so bring plenty of inspiration.

Course Materials

Included

  • On this course, the tutor will supply some of the materials, including: A2 200gsm white cartridge paper, acrylic paint, screen printing medium and retarders, newsprint, masking tape, brown tape, talc and acetate.

What students need to bring

  • Images for inspiration: these could be in the form of photographs, sketchbooks, collages,
  • colour studies, or images on a laptop or iPad. Subject matter could be figurative, landscape based, abstract or pattern based and centred around your own interests.
  • Cheap or old brushes are fine, (pastry brushes and house painting brushes can also be used).
  • General art supplies, i.e. ruler, pencils, rubber, etc.
  • Interesting papers, including textured or coloured paper. Any watercolour, poster colour and acrylic paint you may have. Screen printing medium, neo-colour water-based pastels. A good selection of differently sized hog hair and softer brushes, flat and round. Scalpel or craft knife.
  • An apron to protect your clothes.

Available to buy

  • Available from shop:
  • General art materials, including graphite sticks, 5B and upwards pencils, graphite powder, rulers, rubbers, a good selection of watercolour and acrylic paint, a selection of differently sized hog hair and softer brushes flat and round, interesting papers, screen printing medium, Neo-colour water-based pastels, scalpels and craft knives

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio. This includes stout covered footwear, i.e. no open-toes or sandals.

Timetable

Arrival Day - this is the first date listed above

Courses start early evening. Residential students to arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm.

6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included).

8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential.

Daily timetable

Classes 9.15 - 5pm, lunch is included.

From 6.30pm: Dinner (included for residential students).

Evening working - students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with their tutor's permission and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Last day

Classes 9.15am - 3pm, lunch is included.

Residential students are to vacate their rooms by 10am please.

(This timetable is for courses of more than one day in length. The tutor may make slight variations)

General Information

Tutors

Jane Sampson

Jane is a a graduate of Exeter University and the Barber institute Birmingham University. She has researched printmaking for Brighton University and is well known for her teaching both there and at her own studio Inkspot Press. She frequently exhibits at the Affordable Art Fair in London and Printfest in Cumbria, and won the John Purcell prize at the Royal Society of Painter Printmakers in London. Her work is in private and corporate collections, at The Mappin Art Gallery and at the Printmakers Council.

Accommodation

Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.

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Further study options

Take the next step in your creative practice, with foundation level to Masters in Fine Art study. 

Depending on your experience, start with an Online Foundation Certificate in Art and Design (one year, part-time), a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design made up of 10 short courses taken over two years (part-time) or advance your learning with our BA (Hons) Art and Contemporary Craft: Materials, Making, and Place (six years part-time). All will help you develop core skills, find direction in your practice and build an impressive portfolio in preparation for artist opportunities or higher-level study. See all degree and diploma courses.