Month: April 2023

BLOG

Sorry for the long delay without a post but I have been super busy with work and other things. So I finally got around to finishing the rest of the wood lithography process. So to be more effecient, soak your paper so while you are working on rolling out your ink and the other parts of the process your paper will be ready to go.

Post author By Stephen Wiggins
Post date April 30, 2023

Sorry for the long delay without a post but I have been super busy with work and other things. So I finally got around to finishing the rest of the wood lithography process. So to be more effecient, soak your paper so while you are working on rolling out your ink and the other parts of the process your paper will be ready to go.

Then I roll out my ink. I used gamblin drive by black. I probably should have used litho ink, but I went with the drive by black instead.

So the first step after you roll out your ink is to wash off the gum arabic. You don’t want to have any gum arabic on your block.

You can wash it out under the sink or your a sponge to wash it off the block.

Don’t roll ink on the wood block unless you have dampened the sponge and lightly cover it with water in a circular motion.

This is what the print comes out like. I was pretty well pleased. Everyone turned out well for one print. Might not be able to do an edition. But it was fun none the less.

A greater detail of the print.

So there you go! Wood lithography! Its pretty awesome and I do enjoy it quite a bit! Worth giving it a shot and trying it out!

BLOG

How to screen print with speedball art products

Post author By Stephen Wiggins
Post date April 30, 2023

Screen printing, also known as silkscreen printing, is a popular printing technique used to create high-quality, detailed prints on a variety of surfaces, including paper, fabric, and plastic. In this blog post, we will walk you through the screen printing process step by step, complete with pictures.
Step 1: Design Preparation
The first step in the screen printing process is to prepare your design. This can be done using graphic design software like Adobe Illustrator or by hand drawing your design on paper. It’s important to ensure that your design is high-resolution and has crisp, clean lines, as this will make it easier to transfer onto the screen.
Step 2: Screen Preparation
The next step is to prepare your screen. Start by selecting a screen that is the appropriate size for your design. The screen is typically made of a fine mesh material that is stretched over a frame. To create your screen, you will need to coat the mesh with a light-sensitive emulsion, which will allow your design to be transferred onto the screen.
Step 3: Exposure
Once your screen has been coated with the light-sensitive emulsion, it’s time to expose it to light. Place your design on top of the screen and secure it in place with a piece of clear glass or plastic. Then, use a light source to expose the screen, which will harden the emulsion in areas that are not covered by your design.
Step 4: Washing
After your screen has been exposed, it’s time to wash it to remove the unhardened emulsion. Use a pressure washer or hose to rinse the screen with water, being careful not to spray too hard or too close to the screen, as this can damage the emulsion.
Step 5: Printing
Now that your screen is ready, it’s time to start printing. Place your substrate (the surface you are printing on) on a flat surface, and then place your screen on top of the substrate. Apply ink to the top of the screen, and then use a squeegee to pull the ink across the screen, forcing it through the mesh and onto the substrate.
Step 6: Drying
After you have finished printing, it’s important to allow your prints to dry thoroughly. Depending on the type of ink and substrate you are using, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
Step 7: Finishing
Once your prints are dry, they are ready to be finished. This may involve cutting them down to size, hemming or folding them, or heat-setting the ink, depending on the type of substrate and ink you are using.
In conclusion, screen printing is a versatile and effective printing technique that can be used to create high-quality, detailed prints on a variety of surfaces. With a little practice and patience, you can master the screen printing process and create beautiful prints of your own.

BLOG

How to print linocut blocks onto tshirts

Post author By Stephen Wiggins
Post date April 30, 2023

Printing linoleum cut relief blocks onto t-shirts and other fabric

So since about 2012 I have been experimenting with printing on t-shirts with relief blocks. Its been a lot of fun and usually its the only thing I can sell from my art shows. So its my art that people can support. I really do enjoy it and I am getting it down to a science.

The first step is to actually carve your block. I draw my image to the block and then trace with sharpie and carve it out. I plan my blocks out before I carve them. I tend to work in black and white. So my block is carved and I inked up my block with drive by black.

This is a detail shot of what the ink is supposed to look like. Its a bit more than what you are supposed to use for relief printing. Almost like an orange peel consistency.

So when you get your shirt lay it out on the press and put newsprint in between the front and back of the shirt.

I also tuck in the sleeves and fold them in half. Make sure they don’t go under where you will be printing or the ink won’t be as consistently printed.

You can also run it through the press to flatten it out. Make sure you keep the printing area flat so you won’t get wrinkles. That will ruin a printed shirt.

For larger sized shirts make sure you print 3 or 4 fingers down from the bottom of the collar and the top of the design for a front chest design. You don’t have to print front chest. You can print anywhere on the shirt you want.