This online printmaking course is a complete guide to creating simple screenprints from home. The course explores three different methods to create stencils for use with screenprinting, including found objects, paper stencils and hand-painted stencils. Learn how to create a design, prepare the screen, use the ink and a squeegee and finally print!

Screen printing (or silk screen printing) is a completely different method of printmaking to linocut or block printing and instead of taking a print directly from a plate or block, the ink passes through a mesh (i.e. the screen), onto the printing paper which is placed underneath. On the mesh itself various forms of stencils are created to stop the ink from passing through in those areas. 

Screen printing has the quality of being able to produce even, flat areas of colour. Often brightly coloured images or very graphic designs are associated with screen printing. As well as being used for a fine art purpose, screen printing is used for t-shirt printing, fabric printing, signs and posters.