Screen printing experiments on wood, metal & vinyl

An exploratory approach to form, color and material. As part of at interdisciplinary screen printing module, at experimental examination of the question of how jazz can be visually translated through elementary forms, contrasts and analog design methods emerged.

Contents

Result

Screen printing series on different materials

Handcrafted implementation of the previously developed motifs using the screen printing process.

Finished screen printed poster on brown cardboard with abstract purple letter lines and blue and purple jazz musician portraits.

Close-up of a yellow t-shirt printed with the black jazz graphic design from musician portraits and letter lines.

Close-up of a cream-colored fabric bag printed with the blue jazz graphic design of musician portraits and letter lines.

Close-up of a black vinyl record with yellow jazz graphic print, half sticking out of a green and gray patterned record sleeve with typography.

Extreme close-up of a screen print on gray metal sheet showing the fine grid pattern of two brown printed faces.

Close-up of a brown screen print on a light wooden surface showing musician portraits and abstract typographic elements.

Macro shot of a two-color screen print in purple and light blue on a textured white background with visible halftone grid pattern

Variety of materialsThe motifs were implemented on paper, wood, metal, records and textiles.
Color variationsThe designs were created as single-color and multi-layered two-color prints.
Haptic effectDifferent substrates created unique surface structures and tactile qualities.

Initial situation

Goal of the training

Design, visualization and realization in screen printing with a focus on materiality and experimental form finding. Jazz is chosen as the common theme because of its improvisation, dynamics and complexity.

Minimalist sketchy ink texture drawing of a group of students sitting in a circle and talking.

Design studies

Focus on materiality

Experimental compositions with a strong focus on materiality and expression. Especially in the age of digital surface fetishism and its haptic impoverishment. Conscious reduction to black and white, simple shapes and contrasts supported the investigation of rhythm, tension and visual compression.

Creative work table made of wood with abstract black and white paper collages, sketchbook, scissors, ink, glue stick and brushes.

Tearing & Cutting

Mostly simple shapes like rectangles and circles made of black or white paper.

Collection of various abstract, black and white graphic studies with torn paper edges, line structures and geometric patterns.

Use of images

Pre-printed black and white motifs are cut up, torn and rearranged.”

Graphic collage of historical black and white photographs of jazz musicians, singers and bands on contrasting black and white backgrounds

Free expansion

Analogue manipulations with ink up to enlarging the printer images for visible printing grids.

Black and white design collage combining jazz musicians with abstract line graphics, ink splashes and dynamic patterns.

Design development

Select favorites and develop them further

As a team of two, the most interesting motifs and approaches from the previous process are selected and developed into a final design.

Minimalist ink texture sketch of two students working together over document boards or drafts at a table.

Preparation for printing

For the final design, a template for single-color printing and two templates for two-color printing are created.

Print template on black background with contrasting color, white lines, abstract typography and cut-out areas

Print template on white background with posed, gridded black and white portraits of jazz musicians and registration marks in the corners

Screen printing workshop

Experimental printing process

Material, color and technology ensure constantly new results. Chance and intention are balanced.

Two men in a workshop at the screen printing at a table.

Sieve exposure

The design templates determine where color is allowed through or blocked.

A rustic wooden work table in a workshop with paint can, paper roll and a hairdryer on the floor in front of it.

Mix colors

Mix enough ink so that there are no interruptions during the printing process and the pores in the screen do not dry out.

Bird's eye view of several opened and closed paint cans with spatulas and brushes on a work table.

Apply printing ink

The prepared screen is flooded and the ink is applied to the printing material with a squeegee.

A man with glasses and an apron pulls a squeegee across a screen-printing frame on a work table.

Clean screens

After printing, ink residue is washed out so the screens can be reused for the next print run.

Two men rinse large screen-printing frames with a water hose in a washout area.