EQUIP - Screen Print Workshop

EQUIP - Screen Print Workshop

Kaws Screenprint Workshop
To learn a little bit on how workshops worked we went to the Kaws Screenprint workshop at YSP, for £6 it was hard to say no!

What we learnt from this and what gave us confidence was;
Theres no rush, people are prepared to wait. 
Use pre cut templates for people who dont feel comfortable creating complex shapes. 
Fabric screens dont dry up!
Have a system for screens using different colours, have a sort of circle going on so the people at the workshop can cycle through the colours they like. 
If we get some beds with hinges this keeps everything clean and tidy and less clumsy. 
Have a set number of colours, keep things simple. 

Preparation
For people wanting to create complex patterns but not confident to use the knifes, a number off laser cut templates where made in bulk, these could then be cut up and combined with other shapes to create more complex patterns.

We didn't want people to feel disappointed so we wanted to give them a full range of options when it came to what they could make, from textured gradients too fluid shapes too accurate geometrics. Combine these with there own shapes and a nice set of possibilities arise. 

We wanted to do it on a budget with it been our first so we stuck to A4 screens, this kept things simple and less daunting for first time printers too. The first screen we bought was a cheap wooden one and the fabric a little flimsy, we tried a stencil idea from the KAWs exhbition and the bad quality screen bled through. 

Getting to terms with cutting stencils for screen-printing as we were used too exposing screens, it didn't take long and we were able to start making complex shapes and patterns and really enjoying the process. 

We found that magazined where an ideal material for stencils, the glossy finish allowed a more robust application when it came to the repeatability of the stencil, allowing around 15-17 prints too be made before the paint started bleeding. An important consideration at this stage was to keep the paint very opaque with lots of binder to stop the screen drying, we needed to get 4 hours worth or printing out without the screens drying. 

After the end of 2 days of testing we where fully happy and ready to go, confidence was the key here as we was printing for 4 hours we wanted to know everything would run smooth and with it been our first workshop we did not want to fail before we even begun. 

Promotion

The tickets were promoted through the Leeds Print Festival Website and Creative review, distributing the Equip name out on a large scale, some great exposure for us especially for our first workshop. 

The Day
The 4 hour day would consist of a quick 15 minute talk and explanation of the day and the process, with a guide round the tables and talk about the colours available and guide them round the tables and talk through the stencil process from drawing out the pattern too the cutting too the printing. 

We had work on show to show the possibilities of screen printing with exposed screens both on wood and on paper, we wanted people to take this on as a hobby at home so showing them where this could progress too shows them the future potentials of this process. 

Again thank you to Leeds Print Festival for the opportunity to run our first workshop, it was good for all the tickets to sell out and see everyone pleased with there outcome. Really pleased with what work people came out with to say a lot where first time printers, some nice detailed prints and good use of colour while some produced editions of 20 showing that the stencil system was robust and accurate enough for high volume printing. 

 Another foot foreword for another touch point of our business.