Print Making/ Silk Screening

Materials needed:

A template to carve into to make the print, whether that is Styrofoam, wood

Printing or Painting rollers

Printing ink, poster paint

Material to transfer the print on, paper is common, but do not be scared to get creative!

Pencils

newspapers

The first step is to figure out what you are going to design and what you are going to transfer it on to. sketch it out on a scrap piece of paper first, it is much easier to erase rather than trying to fix carvings.

Once you have created your beautiful design, the next step is to carve it on the template. If using Styrofoam, carve with a pencil. The substance must be able to handle carving and able to transfer the pattern. Make sure to carve very deep so when you roll the paint on the design is still visible.

Lay down newspapers under your design, you can also use paper for the paint. Roll your paint roller through the paint on the paper, then ever so lighting roll it onto your design template. Ensure paint has gotten into the carved design, if this happens use your pencil or a toothpick to scrap it out. The paint should be a thin to medium thickness.

Once the design is covered with paint, take the material you want it transferred onto. Align it, lay it down over top of the paint then slap it down. Take a spoon and rub the back of the paper or material.

When sure that the paint has transferred lift it away from the template and see the finished product!

Special thanks to the Women’s Resource Center for putting on the do it yourself workshop. Every Monday take part in new DIY workshop from 12-3, with a donation of $3. Past workshops have included Burlesque Lingerie, candle making, nipple pasties and a mix tape exchange.