syllabus — ART 231 — Screen Printing

Painted Stencil Screen Prints

overview:

Will you continue exploring the topic(s) from your fist project or choose a new issue to research and develop? The format for this assignment is the same as the last assignment in that you will develop a plan or design for both a limited edition set of identical prints and a collection of experimental prints. Similarly, you will also want to consider the same questions regarding how to best express your message. Let your experience with the first project inform how you approach your work and address your concept.

This project covers multiple types of screen printing (open screen painting/drawing, drawing fluid method, screen filler method), but as a whole this group of processes is the most painterly, and if desired can reveal the hand of the artist more than many other type of screen printing. Consider the advantages of this format when formulating your plan for this work. Additionally, these processes lend themselves to creating unique and colorful experimental monoprints/monotypes.

**NOTE: You may also utilize any of the prior screen printing methods we have covered in class.

complete or submit the following items for your project grade:

• PREP WORK:
  Present the concept for your work. (SEE: the Developing Ideas assignment)
  
  
• TRADITIONAL LIMITED EDITION:
  Utilize the drawing fluid method and/or the screen filler method to produce your stencil design. Print a limited edition of IDENTICAL finished and signed prints on quality printmaking paper or Bristol board; minimum of 5 prints. See: Edition Information PDF
  NOTE: Newsprint is not an appropriate paper for these prints. Please purchase appropriate paper for these prints.
  NOTE: If you choose, you may add an additional layer to your traditional edition that would utilize the open screen painting/drawing method. If you do this, then the result would be a variable edition and would need to be properly labeled as such (V.E.).
  * Either your traditional edition or experimental set must include multiple print layers (for example, you could use more than one stencil); minimum of 5 multi-layer prints (all of the traditional edition or at least 5 of the 10 experiments).

• EXPERIMENTAL SET:
  Create a diverse collection of monoprints, tests, or experiments that show either a large range of types of experimentation or a great depth into a certain kind of experimentation, minimum of 10 pieces. These pieces may be on any form of support (not just printmaking paper) and may be signed or unsigned.
  This set of 10 or more should include: at least 2 pieces utilizing the drawing fluid method and/or the screen filler method, and at least 2 pieces utilizing open screen painting/drawing. The use of multiple interacting processes is encouraged.
  * Either your traditional edition or experimental set must include multiple print layers (for example, you could use more than one stencil); minimum of 5 multi-layer prints (all of the traditional edition or at least 5 of the 10 experiments).
  
  
• PRESENT IN CRITIQUE:
  Consider a proper format for presenting your work (for example, pinning to the wall) and be prepared display all your work during the critique.
  If you are absent on the day(s) of the critique or your work is not complete for critique, you must submit a brief written component along with your images on D2L for presentation credit; discuss the details of the description and self-assessment paper with me.
  
  
• DOCUMENT:

Photograph / document your final work and submit the JPGs (or HEICs) in the appropriate D2L folder within 1 week of the end of class critique. You will have a brief amount of time to photograph your work during class critique or you may photograph it before/after critique. It is not my expectation that you edit the images or clean them up, but as long as your work was in critique, you may submit appropriately edited images if you choose.

NOTE: Please submit a minimum of 6 images as listed below as JPG (or HEIC) files to receive full credit for your work. Do not submit in a different file format without discussing with me.
NOTE: Items loaded after the 1 week timeframe will be considered late and will receive reduced points.
NOTE: Assignment credit may not be granted unless minimum D2L submission requirements are met.

Please submit a minimum of the following JPG/HEIC images:

1+ photo(s) of your favorite limited edition print (full image of print)

3+ photos of your favorite experiments (full image of experiment if applicable)

1+ photo(s) of a detail of a single work

1+ photo(s) or some configuration of photos showing ALL your work for critique – this part of the documentation doesn’t need to be formal and can be prints spread on the wall or floor, etc.

[ This is a minimum of 6 photos total ]

NOTE: If you feel that your concept for this project will not be possible within these stated requirements, please talk to me ASAP so we can work out a different set of requirements.

grade criteria for limited edition prints:

• Challenge of concept, message, or purpose
• Success of concept, message, or purpose
• Identical printing (at least 5 prints)
• Effort exhibited in the initial sketches for your work
• Overall composition
• Detail and complexity of stencil design
• Skill and craftsmanship in creating your stencil(s)
• Two stencils*
  * Either your traditional edition or experimental set must include multiple print layers (for example, you could use more than one stencil); minimum of 5 multi-layer prints (all of the traditional edition or at least 5 of the 10 experiments).
• Quality and craftsmanship of printing
• Finished quality of the work; appropriateness for portfolio or exhibition display
• Appropriate application of limited edition process
  To edition, gather your prints and select the prints that look identical (sometime a little paintbrush or X-acto work can remove a small blemish). If you choose, you may decide to set aside a few prints as Artist Proof images (label those as: A.P.) or to set aside a few Trial Prints / Test Prints that might even include your notes written on them (label those as: T.P.). Count your remaining identical prints and the resulting number is your edition size. See: Edition Information PDF for further information.
  
  Prints are labeled under the image in sharp pencil, left to right: # of print / # in edition, title (if applicable), signature and date.

grade criteria for second or experimental pieces:

• Challenge of concept, message, or purpose as it applies to the work.
• Effort exhibited in formulating a plan for beginning your experimentation; this may or may not be sketches.
• Breadth and/or depth of experimentation (try: color, color-mixing, materials, multi-stencil, mixed-media, conceptually based work, etc.)
• Evidence of exploration and multiple trials (If this component is not clear in the final prints or if the final prints no longer exist, please provide a statement or other form of documentation.)
• Quality and craftsmanship as it applies to the work.
• Successful completion of at least 10 pieces with at least 2 pieces utilizing the drawing fluid method and/or the screen filler method, and at least 2 pieces utilizing open screen painting/drawing.
• Two stencils*
  * Either your traditional edition or experimental set must include multiple print layers (for example, you could use more than one stencil); minimum of 5 multi-layer prints (all of the traditional edition or at least 5 of the 10 experiments).

resources:

Print Liberation by Nick Paparone and Jamie Dillow (book)

Water Based Screen Printing by Roni Henning

Simple Screenprinting: Basic Techniques & Creative Projects by Annie Stromquist

Make Ink: A Forager’s Guide to Natural Inkmaking by Jason Logan

Drawing Fluid & Screen Filler cheat sheet (PDF)

Screen Filler Reduction Technique (PDF)

Drawing Fluid & Screen filler 8-part video clip series from Speedball

Water-soluble media examples: watercolor paints, watercolor pencils, charcoal, chalk pastels, water‑soluble/washable markers, non-art materials like foods, etc.)

Print room Washout Booth Instructions (PDF)

Classroom screen sizes