Angela Costello Original Prints
What is an original screen print?
Screen printmaking (also called Serigraphy or Silkscreen printmaking) is a multi-stage process which involves creating an image, exposing this image onto a silkscreen and using this screen to print the image, in ink, onto a substrate, such as paper or fabric. The resulting set of prints is called an edition and each print in the edition is an original piece of art because the printmaker has made each one.
Creating an Image
Image creation can incorporate drawing, painting and photographic techniques, all applied to a surface that is transparent or translucent, to allow for selective passing or blocking of light. Frosted or clear Mylar (plastic film) is most often the base on which the images are created. Opaque markers, ink, paper, paint, fabric, graphite pencil, and thin objects can all be used to build the image. Photographic images printed on positive or negative film or acetate can also be incorporated.
Preparing and Exposing a Screen
A silkscreen is created by stretching fabric (originally silk, now synthetic) tightly over a sturdy wood or aluminum frame. A thin coat of photo-emulsion is applied to the screen and left to dry in the dark until ready for exposure. The image is placed under the screen and exposed to bright light for the amount of time required to react with the emulsion and harden it in the screen. All of the areas of the image which allowed light through would be hardened and the parts which were opaque would remain soft and wash out with water after the exposure is complete. These open areas on the screen are identical to the image created.
Printing the Image on the Substrate
The screen is attached to the printing table, screen side to the table, using hinge clamps. The desired colours of ink are prepared and then applied in a bead (long, thin row) along the bottom edge of screen. This bead is a little wider than the image and at least as wide as the squeegee being used to force the ink through the screen to the paper. The squeegee is used to push the bead of ink to the hinge end of the screen, flooding the image with a light coating of ink. The substrate (paper) is inserted under the screen. The bead of ink is pulled back down across the screen, using even and heavy pressure on the squeegee, which forces the ink through the open areas and onto the paper below. This process is repeated on the prepared sheets of paper until the image has been printed the desired number of times. Typically, each colour you see on a given print requires a different screen and printing session.
Creating an Edition
When finished, the artist has created a set of limited edition original prints. These are given an edition number, and titled and signed by the artist. Each print in an edition is of equal value as they are all originals. This differs from a reproduction, which is a high quality photograph of an original work of art, like a painting, which is printed by a machine and assigned a number.