Our bold, modern designs lend themselves to the screenprinting process which produces the most vibrant colors of any print method. Unlike inks used in many other printing techniques, screen printing ink "sits" on the surface of paper, resulting in rich, velvety, bright colors.
Screen printing (also known as silk screening, or serigraphy in fine art circles) is one of the oldest methods of printmaking, with examples dating back to the Song Dynasty in China. The process involves creating a sharp, crisp image on a screen made of porous mesh. Traditionally, the mesh screen was made of silk (hence the term silk screen), however modern screens are made using synthetic fibers, most commonly polyester. Areas of the screen are blocked to create a stencil of the image to be printed. Paint-like ink is pulled over the screen with a squeegee, resulting in ink passing through the open areas of the screen onto the paper (or other material) below.
Beginning in the early part of the 20th century, the process became popular among activist artists in the US who used posters to spread political messages. The equipment and materials needed to screen print are simple and inexpensive compared to other printing processes, so it was a perfect medium for grassroots activists. The process remains a popular choice for poster making in many subcultures that are drawn to the DIY nature of screen printing.
In addition to activists, fine artists became interested in the medium, most notably Andy Warhol. Others include Robert Rauschenberg and Charley Harper. Many more artists chose screen printing as one of the processes they experimented with during their careers.
Check out the guest post we did about our screen printing process on the Oh So Beautiful blog.