Screen Printing Collageby Tonya Hill for Speedball Art Products

Using a single large screen dividedinto multiple small square windowpanes, a class of 15-20 students create their own individual art projectthat becomes part of the whole. Thisproject allows for many differentoverall themes or subject matterdepending on time of year or currentstudies. Example: Holiday, Science,Animals, Flowers etc. Students willlearn some basic screen printing techniques, mixing and blending colors, and working as a team.

Speedball Fabric Inks are vibrantly colored, easyto use, non-toxic and water-based for easycleanup. Once heat-set on fabric with a house-hold iron, they are permanent but soft to thetouch. Multiple, overlapping, transparent layersof color produce exciting results.

Grade Levels 3-12

Preparation

1. Seal the gap formed between the fabric andthe wood frame on the inside of the frame byfolding the masking tape and placing 1/4" ofit on the fabric and the rest on the frame. Onthe back, place the tape so it covers 1/4" onthe fabric and covers the corded groove onthe frame. Replace as necessary.

2. Following the directions on the Diazo PhotoEmulsion Kit, prepare the screen and allow todry.

3. Once the screen is dry, place the black con-struction paper squares on the screen in awindow pane pattern, leaving a 1/2" or 3/4"border around each one. Use a ruler to helpkeep straight. Lay a piece of glass orPlexiglass® that fits the inside of the screenon top of the squares. Place a 250-watt lightbulb 17" above the screen and expose to thelight for 20 minutes. Once time is up, removethe glass and squares and rinse the screenwith water until all squares are clearlyexposed. The window pane screen is now permanent and may be used over and overwith the drawing fluid and screen fillermethod.

Process

1. Have students draw with the pencils on thewhite drawing paper squares. Assign a theme,such as animals, flowers, shapes, holidaythemes, etc. Once two or three students havefinished their drawings, they can come upand place it under the screen and trace itusing Speedball’s Drawing Fluid and a paint-brush (A). Make sure the screen is elevated —not touching the table.

2. When all of the drawings have been transferred to the screen, allow to dry for 15minutes (B). Mix the screen filler well andspoon on the same side of the screen. Spreadwith the squeegee to apply an even coat.Avoid making multiple passes with thesqueegee so as not to disturb the drawingfluid.

3. Allow the screen filler to dry completely.Once the filler is dry, rinse the screen in coldwater (C). Use a sponge to softly massagestubborn areas to completely clear the screenin image area. Allow the screen to dry againand apply screen filler with a brush to modifythe design or to block out margin areas tothat the screen is completely blocked in non-image area.

4. Allow the screen to dry again and you areready to print. Place the screen on top of apiece of dry paper or fabric (use water-soluble ink for paper, fabric ink for fabric).Spoon ink across the end of the screen nearest you. With the screen lifted slightlyfrom the table, apply an even blanket of inkwith the squeegee. Drop the screen over thepaper and make the print stroke by pullingthe squeegee towards you at a 45° angle. Liftthe screen away.

5. If more than one color is being printed on thesame surface, the ink is allowed to dry andthen the process is repeated with anotherscreen and different color of ink (D). Scoopaway any remaining ink and wash the screenwith warm water. The screen can be re-usedafter cleaning.

Variations

One fun method of printing is “Split Fountain”which is accomplished by pouring or spooning abead of several colors of ink at the top of thescreen and swirling through them with a craftstick to marble them before pulling thesqueegee. Each pull of the screen will result in aslightly different effect.

National Standards

Content Standard #1 — Understanding andapplying media, techniques and processes

K-4Students use different media, techniques andprocesses to communicate ideas, experiencesand stories

5-8Students intentionally take advantage of thequalities and characteristics of art media,techniques and processes to enhance communication of their experience and ideas.

9-12Students conceive and create works of visualart that demonstrate an understanding ofhow the communication of their ideas relatesto the media, techniques and processes theyuse.

Materials

Screen Printing Frame, 12XXmesh, 16" x 20" (43428-1008)

Blick 80-lb PremiumConstruction Paper, Black,(11409-2003). Cut into 4"squares, one piece per student

Speedball Drawing Fluid,32-oz (43306-1007)

Speedball Screen Filler,32-oz (43306-1107)

Speedball Water-Base FabricScreen Printing Inks (43207-) for printing on fabrics ORSpeedball Water-SolubleScreen Printing Ink (43205-)for printing on paper, four orfive assorted colors

Alvin® Non-Skid StainlessSteel Ruler, 18" (55632-1018)

Blick Scholastic Golden Taklon size 2 round, (05858-1002),may be shared

Blick White Sulphite DrawingPaper, 60-lb, 24" x 36"(10209-1005). Cut into 4"squares, need one piece perstudent

Speedball Diazo PhotoEmulsion Kit (43304-1005)

NOTE: this product carries a CL(cautionary label). Read and followall instructions carefully.

Squeegee, 50-55 Durometer,6" length (37204-1006)

Poly Sponge (32902-1001)

Blick All-Use Masking Tape,3/4" (23006-1000)

Blick Economy GraphitePencils (20302-2009), one perstudent

(A) Transfer the sketches to the screenusing drawing fluid and a brush

(B) Once all the drawings are completed, apply screen filler over thesurface

(C) When the screen filler is dry, rinsethe screen in cold water

(D) Apply a blanket of ink with asqueegee