And more

Yes, another post tonight. Only because I realized that I have pinholes and needed a second coat of screen filler. And since I'm supposed to be documenting EVERYTHING, here ya go.

Pinholes!

recoat!

Screen Filler Technique

So I have abandoned paper and acetate stencils as they just don't work. The next step was to use photo emulsion. Problem----I need to print out transparencies on acetate and my printer cannot handle that. It just smudges everything. And I don't think my school would appreciate me leading up the expensive laser copiers with acetate, so I guess I will try this screen filler technique. My trusty speedball dvd showed me the way.

with the photograph underneath, and the screen taped up, I outlined my art in pencil

The screen must be raised up off the table

screen filler and brushes. Screen filler must be stirred, not shaken

starting to bush the screen filler on

finished with front side

touch ups on the back and now it needs to dry over night

An Interview with Screen Printer John Ahlen

I was able to interview John Ahlen tonight along with his wife Marie. John had a long and successful career in screen printing making prints for well-known artists, as well as original prints and cards himself and in collaboration with other artists including John Stritch and Julio Grande. As far as screen-printing, John has been known to create pieces with over 50 colors, and therefore 50 screens were used. Some of his techniques were very unique and experimental. John offered me some valuable advice as far as how to teach middle school students screen printing.
Some tips include:
1. make it simple for them and myself.
2. prepare the screen myself so students can print instead of prepping.
3. Use techniques that work well such as photo emulsion rather than paper stencils or plastic stencils.
I have an hour of tape and film I will transcribe this weekend.
Thanks John!

An interview with Primm at The Dolphin Studio

It was an honor to meet with and interview Primm tonight! Aside from asking the standard protocol of interview questions that I must ask everyone so the thesis must stay valid, I was able to ask her questions about teaching, art and her life. Ever since moving to the Berkshires just 6 years ago, I realized how much I love the history of these small towns and the people who carry their stories. The Berkshires are a small community and it was exciting to know that we (Primm and myself) had so much in common as far as people we have known throughout the years and teaching. Primm and her late husband John were the head of the art department and taught at Monument Mountain High School, whereas I teach at Monument Valley Middle School, just down the hill. I student taught with Alice who was the former middle school art teacher who Primm knew very well. My favorite part of the night was viewing the very first calendar Primm & John ever made in the late 1960's when they were living in Ireland. (I have this on video!)I have an hour of tapes and videos to view, edit and transcribe this weekend for my research. In the meantime, I do have these photos of the fabulous studio. To learn more about this fabulous family, go to http://thedolphinstudio.com/

Feeling a bit better about this

The thing is I love the way screen-printing looks. That's what I wanted to do this in the first place. I love the flat and bold colors, the geometric shapes and designs, everything. So I do want to get this. Today I stopped into the Dolphin Studio at Alchemy Initiative to pick up my strike through print I bought on etsy. http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheDolphinStudio?ref=pr_shop_more When I assisted in the studio a month ago, I feel in love with the strike through prints as they have so much whimsy to them. I chatted with Crispina for a bit and now have a renewed sense of calm and inspiration. I will be interviewing Primm on Tuesday, who is Crispina and Sofie's mother and later this week I will be interviewing John Ahlen who is a master screen-printer who taught the Ffrench family about the art of screen-printing. One way or another, I will figure this out, even if it is with the help of everyone else!

how wonderful is this?!!

Can I rename this blog the Screen-Printing Disaster? Part 2

So Clinton thinks it's me. Something that I am doing wrong is causing failure. Sure, go ahead & try...He even tries some different things, like not taping the back of the screen.
Failure follows.

Can I rename this blog the Screen-Printing Disaster?

I cannot tell you how frustrated I am with this? How in the world am I suppose to teach students his when I can't even do it myself. God, they teach this in schools, and summer camps, why can't an educated 33 year old art teacher with soon to be 4 college degrees get this right! At this point, I don't even care. I'll just write about how I cannot teach it in my thesis. That it is unteachable, difficult, and a waste of money and time.

Acetate Templates

Taping them down

With the aid of the lightbox

Applying the ink

Flooding the Screen

Bad Print, and Multiple Bad Prints after this one. Ink is leaking under the acetate stencil. I hate this.