Screen Printing...

I had been spending a lot of time in the print room so had been thinking about other printing techniques that would work with my lino design. I wanted to try out a marbled screen print effect, where you run multiple colours through the same screen at once. I decided to try it out on my first lino print. I used a single layer black print (with no coloured brain) and inverted the colour so it wasn't contained in a square. 

• I really like how it looks inverted, it works well as a floating image. 
• I like the amount of black in the face and the large area in the head, it gives a good amount of space for the marble effect. 
• I removed the white textures in the head in the actual positive so it was solid black. But left a little bit of the printed texture round his glasses to keep a subtle hand printed effect.

I really wanted to have a go at screen printing some T shirts, so this was a good opportunity. I realised I could also make paper prints through a fabric screen. So I used the same screen for paper experiments and some T shirts. I had been eager to see how I can use screen printing in a more experimental way, so I chose some bright neon colours to work with. 

Paper Experiments:

• This technique is really similar too a marble effect, but rather than flooding all the colours through the screen at the same time: I acted as though I was making a full black print (with only black ink on the screen) and then splatted the neon colours onto the face without flooding it at all. And then pulled the black through the screen, letting the splats leave a an interesting smudged effect. I was really surprised at how vibrant and bold the splats came out. I thought they could be masked by the black when it pulled through the screen.
• I really like the effect this this technique gives, I really like the colour combination. I like how the neon is contained by loads of black, it emphasises the colour (the neons are not over powering), and how the face is still all black keeps the line work bold.
• I think this techniques gives a psychedelic feel, with the bright colours smudged in the brain, could represent huxley's mind state.

• This is a normal marbled effect. I ran half pink and half green through the screen with a tiny bit of black. I think the texture it creates is really cool, but it doesn't enhance the face in any way and the line work becomes to subtle and hard to read. I prefer the subtle colour splats with the face mainly black. 

• I tried an offset/overlay effect. I like how the pink line work is visible through the gaps in the black. It makes it appear denser and complex. This effect is know where ne'er as interesting as the splatted marble effect, it is too predictable, and like how the splat effect gives a totally different effect each time, each print is slightly different, but works around the same process. 

T SHIRTS...

I got a few cheap T shirts from Primark to have a go at printing on. I decided to have a go at the splatted marble effect on the Ts. I also decided to use one of my mono type designs as a small badge/logo for the T shirts. So I reduced the size of it and exposed it onto the same screen.

Front logo and back design:

All the different smudge effects:

• I really like how each design is slightly different, but sticks to the same format and process. Im going to be trying to sell the T shirts so I think this a really good selling point for them. People will be able to chose which one they like best and it will be wearing a totally unique piece of art work.
• I was surprised at how varied the results where, it was much harder to keep them consistent as I presumed. Some of the blacks is much denser than others, but I guess it all adds to the unique effect on each one.

Favorite smudge effect:

• This is my favourite colour splat by far, I love how the ink has hit the screen its created a crazy effect! Its not obvious how it was made which I really like. I could never achieve this exact print again. This goes to show how unpredictable screen printing can be.
• This process has opened my eyes to a whole new side of screen printing, It can be so experimental and un predictable just like other analog print process. You just need to be willing to experiment and throw ink through the screen in different ways. The process doesn't need to be as structured and precise as you think.
• Using the fabric screen loose on the table (rather than attached to the screen printing table), has helped me realise the process so much more. Using bricks to hold the screen in place and lining it up by eye. Ive realised its a very hands on process and it can be manipulated in many ways, you just need to be willing to try out new things. 
• These are only one layer prints, imagine the marble effect on a multiple layered print! Im really glad I tried this process because it has opened up lots of doorways for my personal work and future projects. 
• These designs are not appropriate for my final set of prints, they include too many colours and they would work in a set of prints. But is really beneficial to see how my designs can be turned into a product. 

Back logo:

•  I printed the large faces on the fronts as well so decided too print some logos on the bottom right of them. I had some good feed back from this, it gives the Ts another unique factor.
• I really like how the mono works printed onto a T, id never have guessed that a design like that would be appropriate for a t shirt. But people seem to really like it, This has got me thinking about what kind of designs i can make appropriate for products.
• I chose this mono print because it reflects the large designs slightly, they both include the brain shape. 
• I have really enjoyed seeing how my designs can be applied to a product. It has motivated me so much, seeing how my work can fit into the world and be appreciated. This has been a really big break through for me.