A voice for craft

This week’s #craftfocus is screen printing.

Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a mesh screen, ink, and a squeegee to transfer a stencilled design onto a flat surface.

The basic method involves creating a stencil on a fine mesh screen, then pushing ink (or paint, in the case of artwork and posters) through to create an imprint of the design on the surface beneath.

The way the stencil is created can vary depending on the materials used. Different stencilling techniques include using masking tape or vinyl to cover the desired areas of the screen, painting the stencil onto the mesh using ‘screen blockers’, such as glue or lacquer, and using a light-sensitive emulsion to create a stencil – then developed in a similar way to a photograph.

Some designs may use only one shade of ink, or many – in which case each colour must be applied in individual layers using separate stencils for each ink. One reason screen printing is so widely used is due to its ability to produce vivid colours, even on darker fabrics.

Issues affecting the viability of screen printing include competition with digital printing technologies, which offer quick turnarounds and the ability to print complex designs with low setup costs. This has also resulted in a reduced number of skilled practitioners.

Traditional screen printing uses inks and chemicals that can be harmful to the environment, which is why it is crucial for screen printing businesses to invest in environmentally friendly alternatives.

Images: Sarah Martinez @berkshire_printmakers

#heritagecrafts #craftfocus #screenprinting

Discover tools and resources designed for maker businesses on the Heritage Crafts member portal.

Become a member here: https://www.heritagecrafts.org.uk/join-us/

🎀Silk weaving by Heritage Crafts Member: @s.bye.design at @whitchurchsilkmill

#endangeredcrafts #craft #maker #heritagecrafts #silkweaving #silkribbonmaking

This week’s #mondaymaker is Jof Hicks – a withy pot maker.

Jof grew up on the Isles of Scilly on a small farm, and has always been making. Around 25-30 years ago, Jof was taught how to make withy pots by Brian Richard. Fascinated by the natural cycle of withy pot making, Jof planted a lot of willow around Scilly, making pots every winter. Six years ago, Jof decided to make the craft a full time pursuit. Jof seeks to close circles of the distance between the different processes around pot fishing.This not only includes the growing, making, and fishing, but also limiting transport and carbon footprint, etc.

If you want to read an exclusive interview about Jof’s work, become a member of Heritage Crafts and learn more in the members portal: https://www.heritagecrafts.org.uk/join-us/

#heritagecrafts #mondaymaker #withypotmaking

This week’s #craftfocus is marionette making.

The making of traditional wood and string marionette puppets has a rich history that traces back thousands of years, with origins believed to lie in ancient civilizations such as Egypt, India, and Greece.

There is evidence of puppetry originally taking place in the UK around 600 years ago in the 1400s. The earliest recorded puppet show took place at Bartholomew Fair around 1600.

In the Victorian era, marionettes were a popular form of entertainment for adults and children in England. However, by the 1860s, permanent marionette shows were no longer popular, and traveling shows became more common.

More recently the tradition was continued with John Wright Marionettes (1952 in South Africa, then in Hampstead London by 1957) who then founded the Little Angel Theatre by the late John Wright and his wife Lyndie in 1961.

Marionette making techniques include:

-Drafting and designing
-Wood carving
-Joint making
-Treating and finishing
-Marionette control design
-Stringing

Classified as endangered on our crafts list, threats to marionette making include a lack of professional training opportunities; there is reduced opportunity to practice due to a limited number of productions, alongside an ageing workforce and few remaining teachers / practitioners.

Makers also encounter small business issues, reflecting general challenges to funding within the arts sector.

Images: Oliver Hymans @buddyollie

#heritagecrafts #craftfocus #marionettemaking