My mixed media life actually orginates in the quilt world. Did you know that? I was a mixed media art quilter first and foremost and then stumbled into art journaling and paper. Happily stumbled.
While I don't sew as much as I used to, I still read some quilting blogs and often run into surface design techniques that I long to try out. For years the art quilt world has been filled with Thermofax printing. It's a type of screenprinting, usually done without a frame. Screens are burned on a Thermofax machine. I have wanted one forever, but pesky issues like space and money kept getting in the way.
But, about a year-and-a-half ago I bit the bullet and bought myself a Thermofax machine. You've seen some of the prints on journal pages:
All of the figures as well as the black flowers on the third page were printed with Thermofax screens.
And you might remember this purse I made.
The fabric started as white muslin. I used Thermofax screens to create the beautiful colored patterns you see!
Monday night I got a bee in my bonnet and wanted to try printing with regular acrylic paint on paper instead of screenprinting ink. Some of it was successful and some of it was not.
On the left is stenciling (using the Balzer Designs Cityscape stencil) and on the right, the face and the pink text were both done with a Thermofax screen.
You can see that the face is a bit blurry. Regular acrylic paint is simply not as viscous as screenprinting ink, so it leaked. I learned from my mistake, though, and you can see that the text is much less blurry than the face!
I also tried printing in multiple colors with my Neocolor II crayons:
Seriously fun! (Watch for this technique in my "Getting Started with Neocolor II" online class!)
I also played around with making some itty bitty screens, like this one:
And here it is on these two tags…
…along with a host of other screenprints and a bit of stamping.
Here's a peek at some prints from far and close so you can see the texture:
I'm still experimenting and playing around trying to figure out all the different ways to use my screens! My brain is whirring with all of the many possibilities!
Thanks for stopping by!
Wow…what a great technique! TFS. I started as a quilter way back in the early 80’s and fabric has been calling my name lately 😉
Wow…what a great technique! TFS. I started as a quilter way back in the early 80’s and fabric has been calling my name lately 😉
Wow…what a great technique! TFS. I started as a quilter way back in the early 80’s and fabric has been calling my name lately 😉
Wow…what a great technique! TFS. I started as a quilter way back in the early 80’s and fabric has been calling my name lately 😉
Wow…what a great technique! TFS. I started as a quilter way back in the early 80’s and fabric has been calling my name lately 😉
wow – i liked the blurriness if that is a word from the acrylic paints! I actually got started seeing quilts on your blog and then taking your class It’s Sew Easy!
wow – i liked the blurriness if that is a word from the acrylic paints! I actually got started seeing quilts on your blog and then taking your class It’s Sew Easy!
wow – i liked the blurriness if that is a word from the acrylic paints! I actually got started seeing quilts on your blog and then taking your class It’s Sew Easy!
wow – i liked the blurriness if that is a word from the acrylic paints! I actually got started seeing quilts on your blog and then taking your class It’s Sew Easy!
wow – i liked the blurriness if that is a word from the acrylic paints! I actually got started seeing quilts on your blog and then taking your class It’s Sew Easy!
This is FASCINATING! I’ve never heard of the machine you are talking about- would actually LOVE to see the actual thing in action- will be looking it up in youtube- not to buy but just to see how it actually works. I really love how this blog is completely on a whole different level- there are things routinely explored here I tend to think as out of reach for me and many times I’ve bee inspired to try something or completely put off (which is a GREAT thing when you are faced with having to get a whole new set of art items to start)- I commend you Julie- the pieces here are all gorgeous!
This is FASCINATING! I’ve never heard of the machine you are talking about- would actually LOVE to see the actual thing in action- will be looking it up in youtube- not to buy but just to see how it actually works. I really love how this blog is completely on a whole different level- there are things routinely explored here I tend to think as out of reach for me and many times I’ve bee inspired to try something or completely put off (which is a GREAT thing when you are faced with having to get a whole new set of art items to start)- I commend you Julie- the pieces here are all gorgeous!
This is FASCINATING! I’ve never heard of the machine you are talking about- would actually LOVE to see the actual thing in action- will be looking it up in youtube- not to buy but just to see how it actually works. I really love how this blog is completely on a whole different level- there are things routinely explored here I tend to think as out of reach for me and many times I’ve bee inspired to try something or completely put off (which is a GREAT thing when you are faced with having to get a whole new set of art items to start)- I commend you Julie- the pieces here are all gorgeous!
This is FASCINATING! I’ve never heard of the machine you are talking about- would actually LOVE to see the actual thing in action- will be looking it up in youtube- not to buy but just to see how it actually works. I really love how this blog is completely on a whole different level- there are things routinely explored here I tend to think as out of reach for me and many times I’ve bee inspired to try something or completely put off (which is a GREAT thing when you are faced with having to get a whole new set of art items to start)- I commend you Julie- the pieces here are all gorgeous!
This is FASCINATING! I’ve never heard of the machine you are talking about- would actually LOVE to see the actual thing in action- will be looking it up in youtube- not to buy but just to see how it actually works. I really love how this blog is completely on a whole different level- there are things routinely explored here I tend to think as out of reach for me and many times I’ve bee inspired to try something or completely put off (which is a GREAT thing when you are faced with having to get a whole new set of art items to start)- I commend you Julie- the pieces here are all gorgeous!
This looks like SO much fun. Thanks for showing us what you’ve done.
The other day I read an interesting post on Nina Johansson’s blog about a different method to use Photoshop to make separations. Nina used it for stencils but I think it would also work to create a set of screens for making a multi-screen print using a different color for each screen.
http://www.ninajohansson.se/2013/02/what-becomes-of-all-those-sketches/
This looks like SO much fun. Thanks for showing us what you’ve done.
The other day I read an interesting post on Nina Johansson’s blog about a different method to use Photoshop to make separations. Nina used it for stencils but I think it would also work to create a set of screens for making a multi-screen print using a different color for each screen.
http://www.ninajohansson.se/2013/02/what-becomes-of-all-those-sketches/
This looks like SO much fun. Thanks for showing us what you’ve done.
The other day I read an interesting post on Nina Johansson’s blog about a different method to use Photoshop to make separations. Nina used it for stencils but I think it would also work to create a set of screens for making a multi-screen print using a different color for each screen.
http://www.ninajohansson.se/2013/02/what-becomes-of-all-those-sketches/
This looks like SO much fun. Thanks for showing us what you’ve done.
The other day I read an interesting post on Nina Johansson’s blog about a different method to use Photoshop to make separations. Nina used it for stencils but I think it would also work to create a set of screens for making a multi-screen print using a different color for each screen.
http://www.ninajohansson.se/2013/02/what-becomes-of-all-those-sketches/
This looks like SO much fun. Thanks for showing us what you’ve done.
The other day I read an interesting post on Nina Johansson’s blog about a different method to use Photoshop to make separations. Nina used it for stencils but I think it would also work to create a set of screens for making a multi-screen print using a different color for each screen.
http://www.ninajohansson.se/2013/02/what-becomes-of-all-those-sketches/
Ooo! Another awesome medium! The texture created is so yummy! The Neocolor II technique is definitely intriguing. My husband used to do a lot of silk screening when his roommate had a press, and I caught him watching a Yudu (?) infomercial a while back. He would burn his screens out in the sunlight. Off to see what the Thermofax machine does, cuz, I think he (we!) might have to put this on our Christmas list for each other! 😉
Ooo! Another awesome medium! The texture created is so yummy! The Neocolor II technique is definitely intriguing. My husband used to do a lot of silk screening when his roommate had a press, and I caught him watching a Yudu (?) infomercial a while back. He would burn his screens out in the sunlight. Off to see what the Thermofax machine does, cuz, I think he (we!) might have to put this on our Christmas list for each other! 😉
Ooo! Another awesome medium! The texture created is so yummy! The Neocolor II technique is definitely intriguing. My husband used to do a lot of silk screening when his roommate had a press, and I caught him watching a Yudu (?) infomercial a while back. He would burn his screens out in the sunlight. Off to see what the Thermofax machine does, cuz, I think he (we!) might have to put this on our Christmas list for each other! 😉
Ooo! Another awesome medium! The texture created is so yummy! The Neocolor II technique is definitely intriguing. My husband used to do a lot of silk screening when his roommate had a press, and I caught him watching a Yudu (?) infomercial a while back. He would burn his screens out in the sunlight. Off to see what the Thermofax machine does, cuz, I think he (we!) might have to put this on our Christmas list for each other! 😉
Ooo! Another awesome medium! The texture created is so yummy! The Neocolor II technique is definitely intriguing. My husband used to do a lot of silk screening when his roommate had a press, and I caught him watching a Yudu (?) infomercial a while back. He would burn his screens out in the sunlight. Off to see what the Thermofax machine does, cuz, I think he (we!) might have to put this on our Christmas list for each other! 😉
That’s such a cool way to print… love all the eye candy in today’s post!
That’s such a cool way to print… love all the eye candy in today’s post!
That’s such a cool way to print… love all the eye candy in today’s post!
That’s such a cool way to print… love all the eye candy in today’s post!
That’s such a cool way to print… love all the eye candy in today’s post!
I just started learning how to use a Thermofax screen. My first try was *messy*! I’m using acrylic paints and deli paper.
If I wanted to switch to ink, what ink would you recommend, Julie?
Thanks!
I just started learning how to use a Thermofax screen. My first try was *messy*! I’m using acrylic paints and deli paper.
If I wanted to switch to ink, what ink would you recommend, Julie?
Thanks!
I just started learning how to use a Thermofax screen. My first try was *messy*! I’m using acrylic paints and deli paper.
If I wanted to switch to ink, what ink would you recommend, Julie?
Thanks!
I just started learning how to use a Thermofax screen. My first try was *messy*! I’m using acrylic paints and deli paper.
If I wanted to switch to ink, what ink would you recommend, Julie?
Thanks!
I just started learning how to use a Thermofax screen. My first try was *messy*! I’m using acrylic paints and deli paper.
If I wanted to switch to ink, what ink would you recommend, Julie?
Thanks!
Any brand of screenprinting ink.
Any brand of screenprinting ink.
Any brand of screenprinting ink.
Any brand of screenprinting ink.
Any brand of screenprinting ink.
I like your experiments very much. Used thermofax’s when printing on fabric. You can get lots of fun effects; thanks as always for sharing.
I like your experiments very much. Used thermofax’s when printing on fabric. You can get lots of fun effects; thanks as always for sharing.
I like your experiments very much. Used thermofax’s when printing on fabric. You can get lots of fun effects; thanks as always for sharing.
I like your experiments very much. Used thermofax’s when printing on fabric. You can get lots of fun effects; thanks as always for sharing.
I like your experiments very much. Used thermofax’s when printing on fabric. You can get lots of fun effects; thanks as always for sharing.
So very artful! wow!
So very artful! wow!
So very artful! wow!
So very artful! wow!
So very artful! wow!
Julie, I have always loved your work, but lately you have grown leaps and bounds in your creativity and skill! I am just in awe.
Julie, I have always loved your work, but lately you have grown leaps and bounds in your creativity and skill! I am just in awe.
Julie, I have always loved your work, but lately you have grown leaps and bounds in your creativity and skill! I am just in awe.
Julie, I have always loved your work, but lately you have grown leaps and bounds in your creativity and skill! I am just in awe.
Julie, I have always loved your work, but lately you have grown leaps and bounds in your creativity and skill! I am just in awe.
Hi Julie! where can i find the journals you used in this project? thanks!
Hi Julie! where can i find the journals you used in this project? thanks!
Hi Julie! where can i find the journals you used in this project? thanks!
Hi Julie! where can i find the journals you used in this project? thanks!
Hi Julie! where can i find the journals you used in this project? thanks!