Overseas Arts Gallery - Hand-pulled Serigraphs

Hand-pulled serigraphs, also known as silkscreen prints or screenprints, are a type of printmaking technique that involves creating multiple copies of an image using a stencil and a mesh screen. This process is often used to create vibrant and intricate artwork, posters, and designs.

Here's how the process of creating hand-pulled serigraphs works:

1. Design Preparation: An artist creates a design or image that they want to reproduce using the serigraph technique. This could be a drawing, a photograph, or any other artwork.
2. Creating the Stencil: The design is then transferred onto a stencil, typically made of a fine mesh screen. The areas that are not part of the design are blocked out, leaving open spaces where ink can pass through.
3. Screen Preparation: The mesh screen is then stretched and secured onto a frame. The stencil is attached to the screen, usually on the underside.
4. Ink Application: A specific type of ink is applied to the screen above the stencil. A squeegee is used to evenly distribute the ink across the screen, forcing it through the open areas of the stencil and onto the paper or other substrate below.
5. Printing: The paper or substrate is carefully placed beneath the screen. A steady and controlled amount of pressure is applied to the ink-covered screen using the squeegee, which transfers the ink onto the paper in the pattern of the design.
6. Repeat: For each color in the design, the process is repeated using a separate stencil and screen, carefully registering each color layer to ensure proper alignment. This can result in rich and complex multi-color images.
7. Drying: Once the ink is applied, the print is allowed to dry. This can involve air drying or the use of drying equipment.
8. Editioning: The completed prints are inspected, signed, and numbered by the artist. The set of prints created from a single design is referred to as an "edition." Limited edition prints are common, meaning that only a specific number of prints will be created from that particular design.

Hand-pulled serigraphs are valued for their vivid colors, sharp details, and the tactile quality of the ink layers on the paper. The process allows for a level of artistic expression and variation that can make each print unique, even within a limited edition.

It's worth noting that the term "serigraph" is often used interchangeably with "silkscreen print" or "screenprint," and the technique has been used for various purposes, including fine art, commercial printing, and textile design.