La Calaca International Print Exchange

In a past post I had shown how I was trying to adapt my studio for silkscreening. I had tried sheer curtains and the embroidery hoop frame technique but I found it wasn't as consistent as I needed. After finally adapting an Ikea RIBA frame and chiffon fabric I was able to create clear silkscreen prints.

A while back I began following printmaker Carlos Barberena and I have been continually impressed with his posts about his printmaking techniques and the courses that he teaches. Early this summer I saw that Carlos put out a call for printmakers to submit to an international print exchange with the theme La Calaca, Day of the Dead. How cool! I thought it would be a great chance to explore silkscreen again as well as give me the chance to use my Wacom tablet to work out the preliminary sketches.

As tempting as it was to go crazy with multiple colored screens and create a sugar skull, I kept my design simple and more in keeping with my own style. Below is my print "Never stop dancing". The paper size was restricted to 9"x12" for an edition of 15. I printed on Stonehenge paper . I adhered a different piece of decorative paper to each print to depict the skeleton's dress. I like how the intricate patterns mimic what you might see on a sugar skull for La Calaca.

If you look closely you're able to see the weave of the screen and while it's not as fine as any professional screen I've used, it has been a very good substitute for the home studio at a MUCH lower cost. I should note that while you see pixelation on paper that it disappears when printing on fabric. Stay tuned for future posts and I'll show you what I mean.

If you're interested in seeing other submissions to the exchange you can view them over here. You never knew skulls could look so cool.