Twin Heart
Dear fans,
New screen print, so excited! Thank you so much for being here with me. This is a screen print using contact paper as stencils and ink with translucent effect for layering using an ink extender base.
This is a limited editioned print of 30. If you’d like one, let me know and I’ll see if I’ve got an extra for you ;)
What is Twin Heart? It is a heart condition that can develop in the human body. According to WebMD (not really), it is a growth of extra heart material and tissues as a physical representation of your lover in your body.
If you’ve ever really loved someone or be in a long term relationship, chances are that you’ve had a twin heart at some point or even now, like me. Twin heart can stay symptomless indefinitely. During times of crises, extreme heart ache. Yup damn relationship issues.
1) Design The image was inspired by one of my daily marker drawings. I redesigned it a little bit to prepare for the print.
Redesigning the original drawing in Illustrator
Sorry, but I have to brag about my new acquisition, the Speedball screen print kit! I finally plunked down some money for it. Totally worth it if you’re trying to set up a home printing environment. The hinges make it really easy to flip the screen up and down for fast printing. Yes you can build a screen yourself, yes you can get a base board yourself and get the hinges from the hardware store. But you can also get a part time job and buy these things in a kit on your way home.
Speedball printing kit
The hinges of Speedball printing kit
2) Creating stencils from contact paper The heart shapes are made from stencils from Contact paper, which is what your landlord uses to line the kitchen drawers. You can get a roll for $3 from local hardware store and it lasts forever…unless you are really lining drawers ;p
Using print out and contact paper for creating the stencils
The first heart stencil
Stencil for the text
3) Printing the first layer I also used the print out as a registration technique to help me put paper in the right place to print for different layers.
Printing the first heart
First heart layer
4) Mixing the transparency ink For the slightly transparent/translucent green heart layer, I recommend using a transparent extender base like this one.
Speedball screenprinting ink transparency extender
But the art store was out of this, so I used the Permaset transparent white ink instead. The white color tinted the green a bit, which was okay with me.
Permaset transparent white screenprinting ink
On mixing a transparent layer, always, always use more base, then add the light color, then gradually add in the darker color. Otherwise, you’re going to run out of extender base because of too much colored ink.
Mixing transparency ink by gradually adding colors
Test test test! Use a spare paper to test the transparency and color for the desired color. The color you see in the tub can look very different on paper!
Testing transparency and colors on spare paper
Testing also on proofs of the first layer to see how it comes out when it’s layered on top.
More testing on spare paper, layering with first layer
5) Printing the second layer
Printing on nice paper after many testing
Close up of the layers
6) Printing text layer Finally, print the text layer. Again, lots of testing on spare paper before printing on nice paper.
Testing text on lots of spare paper
7) Sit and look at them Et Voila!
Printed all layers!
Twin Heart
I hope this record of process was helpful for you!
Again, as with all my prints, this is dedicated to Larry who taught me almost everything about printmaking. Okay, fine, the professors taught some, but nothing he didn’t already know. Hmm, I think Larry is now having a nice French meal with a beautiful French lady in a very French corner in heaven!
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