It’s easy to announce that we don’t have time for a new skill or a generous act. But the truth is we probably could find the time. What we don’t have is energy or motivation. Find that and you’ll probably find the time.

Mention Francis Bacon, and you sometimes have to clarify which one you mean: the twentieth-century painter, or the seventeenth-century philosopher? Despite how much time separated their lives, the two men aren’t without their connections. One may actually have been a descendant of the other, if you credit the artist’s father’s claim of relation to the […]

A frog has no trouble grabbing a fast-moving fly in midair. But the same fly, sitting on a leaf, is save, essentially invisible to the frog. We’re a lot like frogs sometimes. We choose to pay attention to things when they’re changing, not when they feel normal. If you want something to get noticed, move […]

Civilization moved past the use of castles long ago, but their imagery endures in popular culture. Even young children here in the twenty-twenties have an idea of what castles look like. But why do they look like that? Admittedly, that’s a bit of a trick question: the popular concept of castles tends to be inspired […]

As the seasons turn we like to have a cosy project on the go. We used orange Speedball Acrylic Screen Printing Ink to create some autumnal themed bunting. Paper bunting in an ideal printing project as it requires multiples! We're making a design from Drawing Fluid and Filler - this will make a screen that requires no exposure equipment but can create much finer detail than paper stencils. The design will stay on the screen until you're finished with it, so you can print with it for days, months or weeks without losing the design! When you're finished, use Speed Clean to remove the design and you'll be back to open mesh. Draw your design onto the mesh of an A4 90T screen gently with a soft pencil. You can place the screen over an image to trace if you prefer. Place the screen upside down (with the mesh raised and flush with the frame). We are working on the back of the screen so that the mesh is elevated. Pour a little Drawing Fluid into a palette or pot. We don't want to dip brushes directly into the Drawing Fluid bottle as it can mold quickly if contaminated. Paint the Drawing Fluid onto the screen. It has a fairly blobby texture so it can be tricky to get very fine lines and sharp corners. Don't worry though, as we can use Screen Filler to neaten the edges later. We are painting the areas that we want to print, so we're painting the positive design, not the negative space. Leave the Drawing Fluid to dry. When dry, tape up the back of the screen with parcel tape. Leave 1-2 cm around the edge of your design. Pour a well of Screen Filler at the top of the screen above the design. Use a squeegee to drag the Screen Filler down the screen. This will fill the holes in the mesh, and be resisted by the Drawing Fluid. Scrape excess Screen Filler back into the bottle. Leave the Screen Filler to dry. Wash the Drawing Fluid out of the screen using a hose. The Drawing Fluid will wash away to reveal open mesh, leaving just the Screen Filler around the design.  When dry, re-tape your screen. All of the areas around the design need to be covered with tape or ink will be let through. We have just taped the back of our screen, but you can tape the front too if you prefer, which will make it easier to clean later. If you feel the design needs refining, you can use a brush with some Screen Filler to neaten any edges or add fine details. Attach the screen to a board using Hinge Clamps. Attach a piece of Mylar to the board, using tape as a hinge along one edge. Choose your ink. We are using Speedball Acrylic Screen Printing Ink in Orange.  Prop the bottom of the screen up (we like to use an empty tape roll). Place a line of ink along the bottom of the screen under the design. Flood the screen: use a squeegee at a 45 degree angle to push the ink up the screen. Remove the prop and place the screen down on the hinged board. The plastic should be underneath. Use the squeegee at a 45 degree angle to push the ink through the screen onto the plastic. Flood the screen. Slide your paper underneath the plastic. This will show you where the design will print. Remove the plastic, and use masking tape to mark where the paper is placed. Place the screen back down and print onto your paper. Repeat the flooding and printing process on all your paper, using the masking tape to show you where to place each piece. Use a hole punch along the top edge of the flags and string them up. When you're finished with the design, use a plastic brush to scrub some Speed Clean onto the screen filler. After a few minutes, clean with a jet wash or hot water. For the project you will need: A4 90T Screen Soft pencil Drawing Fluid Parcel Tape Screen Filler Squeegee Paintbrush Screen Printing Board Hinge Clamps Mylar Paper to print onto Masking Tape Speedball Acrylic Screen Printing Ink Speed Clean