Silkscreen

When & Where

6 June 2025 - 4 July 2025 ( 15 hours, 5 weeks )
Evening, Friday
View course timetable
Waterloo Centre

Quick Facts

Availability Yes
Tutor David Holah
Course Code W24PTGA23A
Suitable For 19 year olds and up are permitted on this course

What you will learn

How to stretch and prepare a screen which can be used to create prints using paper stencils to make interesting back ground prints that can be developed by overprinting. How to coat the screen using a photographic emulsion. The screen can be exposed with different images. You will make photographic and hand drawn images, these can be adjusted and enhanced using the Photoshop application. The images will be exposed on to the photo-sensitive emulsion and the screen will be processed to create a permanent stencil. You will learn how to overprint the screen to achieve interesting layered work combining image, texture and colour. Silkscreens can be printed onto paper, fabric and other surfaces to obtain exciting effects. You will gain a good understanding of how to register the screens in order to overprint precisely. Throughout the course there will be opportunities for the group to look at work and examine ideas and techniques. Students will support and learn from each other in a relaxed and friendly workshop environment. Personal projects will be encouraged to develop ideas and to promote confidence and learning, with advice and guidance and one-to-one tutorials from the tutor.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

stretch a silkscreen
make artwork employing photographic and hand drawn methods, adjust and enhance images using the Photoshop application
expose the image onto a screen coated with a photo sensitive emulsion and process the screen to create a permanent stencil
learn how to silk screen print onto paper and other surfaces
gain a good understanding of how to register and overprint using different methods of screen printing and employ learnt techniques in a combination of ways

Cost

Full fee

£177

Concession fee

£126

Click here for information on Fees, Funding and Concessions (including financial support)

Class format and activities

After looking at and discussing examples and samples, the tutor will demonstrate how to stretch a silk screen. Students will learn different methods of silk screen printing . You will create photographic or hand drawn images that can be enhanced or manipulated in Photoshop. Images will be exposed onto a screen coated with photo sensitive emulsion to make a permanent stencil, the screen can be printed in different ways and different colours to create interesting effects. You will learn how to print screens individually or overprint onto existing images.

Entry requirements

The course is suitable for complete beginners and more experienced printmakers who want to try out new ideas. Knowledge of how to use the Adobe Photoshop program would be beneficial but not essential.

What you need to know before you enrol

Health & Safety information will be given at the start of the course and subsequent lessons where necessary. You will be asked to sign a form declaring that you agree to follow procedures as advised. Some chemicals used may be harmful in pregnancy, and some may cause irritation in very rare cases. Please let the tutor know if you are pregnant or have any sensitivity and they will advise you as to necessary precautions. This class takes place in the textiles studio and we do not have vacuum suction beds. Individual silkscreens are attached to hinged boards to and placed onto work benches to make prints. You will be required to follow good studio etiquette and clean all equipment and leave shared spaces clean and help make sure the studio is left tidy at the end of the class.

What you need

Please bring: pencils, a small paintbrush and a sketchbook or notebook. interesting papers to print onto, mirrored, shiny paper colour acetate, patterned paper and fabrics can be fun to print over. Basic materials are supplied- screens, squeegees, ink binder and a starter pack of paper and 1 mesh for screen (extra paper and further screen mesh will be charged for) any other specific materials will have to be provided by the learner. It would be advisable to bring your own protective clothing and rubber gloves.

What you can do next

You can continue on with this ongoing 5 weekly course to develop and expand your projects ideas and designs. The course provides an excellent start to printmaking or a refresher or taster of new techniques, once the first sessions are complete students can continue on to develop their own art/print practice or build a portfolio. Students can continue to develop personal projects. There are also different printmaking courses that you could continue on as a beginner, intermediate or advanced printmaker. Check out the new, exciting and varied printmaking classes at Morley College. Other printmaking classes with David Holah on Tuesday evening: PRINTMAKING: BEGINNERS AND INTERMEDIATE and Thursday daytime, morning session and afternoon session PRINTMAKING: MIXED TECHNIQUES.