Kelsey Herber, School Programs Associate
We are back in the studio, and this week we’re focusing on the work of Chuck Sperry as seen in his exhibition, Chuck Sperry: Archetypes, on display at the FWMoA now until August 9. Sperry uses a printing technique called screenprinting, which allows an artist to push ink through a screen onto their desired surface. Screenprinting is the most popular method of mass-producing printed shirts! Often seen within screenprinted artwork, and especially in Sperry’s body of work, are several layers of different-colored ink. Printmakers can employ many methods to control where ink transfers onto their surface, and on which layer.
We’re going to practice one of the easiest methods for applying multiple layers, colors, and shapes to a single print using only a few materials!
Materials:
- – Paper
- – Scissors
- – Thin sheet of foam (Styrofoam works too)
- – Ballpoint pen
- – Ink (inkpads, markers, or paint all work)
I started by cutting a basic rectangle with a squiggly border out of my foam. You can use any shape you’d like, but remember that this first layer will be the biggest and will be your background. I covered my surface with ink and carefully flipped it, ink side down, onto my printing paper, using pressure and a little bit of elbow grease to ensure the ink transferred from the foam to the paper.
Then, I removed some of the foam to make my next layer which would be printed using a different, darker color than the last. I applied the ink, pressed the ink side onto the paper, and revealed a whole new image on top of the previous layer.
Repeat this process for as many layers as you need until your print is done! Feel free to cut infinite pieces of foam to achieve your desired level of detail. I stuck with 4 simple layers.
The best part about printmaking is that you don’t just have to make one of your artwork. Throughout the process, you can print multiples of each layer to end up with as many copies of your print as you need!
For more inspiration for your next printmaking project, see Chuck Sperry: Archetypes, on display at FWMoA now until August 9.