“Dreams & Ideas”
Marcie Keller

Lesson Plan
By Bill Thompson
Ursuline Academy of Dallas
Dallas, Texas

Theme
Dreams and Ideas Make an
Imprint on the World

Purpose
Gain control and understanding of screen printing and the computer as tools for personal expression. Students are required produce a print with a minimum of five colors using photo stencils made from positives created on a computer. The software need not be very sophisticated, because further manipulation of the image is encouraged during the printing process. I use this assignment with students who already have fundamental knowledge of screen printing.

Materials
• Speedball® Printing Screens (230 mesh)
• Speedball Printing Frame with Hinges
• Speedball Photo Emulsion
• Speedball Sensitizer
• Screen Filler
• Speedball Squeegees
• Speedball Acrylic Inks/Medium
• Masking Tape
• Ink Knives
• Paper (140 lb. Hot Press Watercolor)
• Registration Tabs for Hole-Punch Registration or Tape
• Light Source for Exposing Screens (Photo Flood, Sun, etc.)
• Computer Drawing/Painting

Note: If permanent stencils are not desired, clean-up materials are required to remove emulsion (Speedball Photoemulsion Remover or bleach) and/or screen filler (Lemon Fresh Mr. Clean or Palmolive Fresh Scent Dishwasher Detergent Gel).

Time Required
Eight Sessions

Process
SESSION 1
Discuss theme to develop some visual ideas. Use the computer to draw and illustrate its range of capability. Assign task of making an image complete with color.

SESSION 2
Translate image to black and white so it will print out as such from the computer, in order
to expose the image “in contact” with the screen to create the stencil. “Translating” image to black and white takes into consideration that black creates open areas in the stencil, for which various colors are printed, and white creates closed or non-printing areas in the stencil. Consideration can also be given to layering of stencils/color and/or reduction printing (printing of subsequent colors within a stencil while reducing the amount of open area in the stencil. A color
computer printout will be handy when planning and printing the image.

SESSIONS 3-8
Screen preparation is a precise operation. Provide detailed instructions prior to beginning. Prepare screen by taping seams where fabric joins wood on both sides and using Speedball emulsion and sensitizer according to instructions. When the screen is dry, expose the prepared screen and positive image to light, then rinse to create open areas through which the ink can flow. Allow screen to dry and inspect for pin holes. Cover them with screen filler. Allow screen to dry again. Demonstrate the screen printing process. When students have a working knowledge of printing, observe the needs of the various images, then introduce new ways to print and/or manipulate a stencil using color blends, split font, crayon stencils, paper stencils, textural applications/resists, etc. Supervise clean-up of ink from screen, as well as safe removal of photo emulsion. Wear safety glasses and rubber gloves when handling clean-up chemicals.
Create screens for additional colors, and demonstrate registration techniques.

Teaching Aids
• Prints by previous students/artists
• Slides of prints
• Books (Water-based Inks: A Screen printing Manual for Student and Classroom by Lois M. Johnson and Hester Stinnett, The University of the Arts Press, Philadelphia, PA)
• Exhibition catalogues
• The Internet/Computer

Evaluation
The students will be evaluated on their:
• Imagination/Growth
• Subject/Material Sensitivity
• Ink Control
• Consistency and Registration
• Compositional Elements
• Finished Work/Presentation
• Time Use, Cleanup and Care