Journey into screenprinting
I’ve been lucky enough to be awarded VACMA funding this year to steer my printmaking practise in a new direction, which I’m hugely excited about. Having experimented with relief and monoprinting onto fabric panels, with stencils unique marks, I have been given the award to dive into screenprinting. This will allow me to print on fabric more efficiently, whilst adding a whole new dimension. I love the combination of flat colours, marks and the endless room for experimentation, that screenprinting provides, and I’m really excited about this new direction.
Another bonus with screenprinting, is I’m constantly striving to have a more environmentally friendly practice, and since I have access to reclaimed fabrics (through ReTweed, where my studio is located). I’m also working with Birkhill House to help them produce printmaking inks from their dye garden. Additionally, I love the idea of my prints as ‘objects’ rather than paper behind mounts and glass frames.
I have started with two supported sessions at the awesome Edinburgh screenprinting studio Ink on Mesh, where Lorna helped me to develop my screens, and experiment. Lorna’s approach is tailored to the individual, and there is an open access studio on a Monday and Friday, available to all who have completed the induction. This approach is ideal for me .. I have a basic knowledge of screenprinting and did some classes at Edinburgh College of Art, but I really need time and space to explore the medium properly.
I have also been able to buy a couple of small screens for my Eyemouth studio, where I have continued my experiments. The next step is some open access sessions at Ink on Mesh and the investment in additional screenprinting equipment for my studio. It’s something I would like to be able to teach as there are very limited screenprinting facilities in the Borders. Watch this space for more!!
Supported through the South of Scotland VACMA scheme funded by Creative Scotland, Dumfries & Galloway Council and Live Borders.
