Screen, Frame, and Stencil

Artists first started silkscreen printing, or screen printing, with actual silk over a thousand years ago in China. Screen printing is a process that begins with woven fabric, which is referred to as the screen. An artist stretches the screen over a wooden frame. Then he or she stencils the negative space on the screen and presses paint through the unblocked positive areas onto the ground. The artist uses separate screens for each color, gradually building the composition in layers.

In the 20th century, commercial artists made this printmaking method popular by using it to repeat images in ads. Today most artists use synthetic materials instead of silk for their screens. Screen printing is used for a variety of purposes, from reproducing fine art to creating movie posters, tote bags, and T-shirts.

Silkscreen printing, or screen printing, is a popular printmaking method. Artists started screen printing thousands of years ago in China. An artist stretches fabric, which is called the screen, over a wood frame. Then he or she stencils the negative space onto the screen. Paint is pressed through the unblocked parts of the screen. This becomes the positive space. Separate screens are used to layer each color.

Ancient Chinese people used actual silk for their screens. Today most artists use human-made materials instead. Screen printing is used for many different purposes, like reproducing fine art and creating movie posters, tote bags, and T-shirts.

Brooklyn-based artist Alex Dodge believes that screen printing suits his artistic expression best. “[Stencils] enabled certain qualities and image-making that nothing else could,” the artist says. To make his 2019 The Only Stars Are In Your Eyes, above, Dodge depicts a vividly-colored, striped jacket that reinterprets the American flag’s colors and patterns. The artist renders text on the back and crops an image of the American flag on the right sleeve, encouraging viewers to consider the flag’s meaning.

Dodge often imbues objects with a lifelike quality in his work. The jacket appears to hang against an indistinct background. But the sleeves look as if a person’s arms are inside. Dodge invites the viewer to consider the identity of the person who might wear the jacket. He uses pattern and text to shape a rendering of a textile that appears to have a defined form within.

Alex Dodge is an artist in Brooklyn, New York. He made The Only Stars Are In Your Eyes, above, in 2019. In the print, Dodge shows a bright, striped jacket. The colors and patterns in the jacket are similar to the American flag’s. The artist includes text on the back. He crops an image of the American flag on the right sleeve. These details encourage viewers to think about what the flag means.

The jacket appears to hang in an empty space. But the sleeves’ shapes and shadows look like a person’s arms are inside. Dodge invites the viewer to think about who might wear the jacket.

As a teenager in Virginia Beach, Ryan McGinness used a silkscreen process to make posters and T-shirts for his rock band. Today, he uses silkscreen techniques to create crisp, precise artworks inspired by graphic symbols, logos, and patterns.

To make his 2007 Untitled (Black Hole 48.2), above, McGinness renders a graphic pattern composed of swirling, ribbonlike shapes. The artist stenciled the hypnotic design on wood using a variety of colors. The white swirls in the center draw the viewer’s eye toward the core of the circle. “I have a very strong sense of form, composition, and color,” McGinness says. “It’s not subjective for me.”

When he was a teenager in Virginia Beach, Ryan McGinness used a silkscreen process to make posters and T-shirts for his rock band. Today, he makes silkscreen prints. He is inspired by symbols, logos, and patterns. In his 2007 Untitled (Black Hole 48.2), above, McGinness creates a pattern out of swirling shapes. The artist stenciled the design on wood using a variety of colors. The white swirls in the center draw the viewer’s eye toward the middle of the circle.

The British artist known as Banksy has been creating provocative stenciled street art for more than 20 years—but nobody knows his true identity. Many people have guessed, but the artist has managed to remain anonymous. Undercover and often overnight, Banksy stencils murals around the world, creating iconic images that people instantly recognize.

Banksy usually provides social commentary in his work, critiquing current events or cultural trends. He stenciled his 2014 Spy Booth, above, on the facade of a house in Britain The print features men wearing trench coats and dark sunglasses. They appear to use sound equipment to wiretap whoever uses the phone booth—in this case, a young girl.

In this work, Banksy addresses surveillance culture related to corporations, the internet, and the government. He incorporates the environment into his print, inviting viewers to interact with his work and to think about how we view privacy in today’s world.

The British artist Banksy is anonymous. This means that nobody knows who he is! He’s been creating stenciled street art for more than 20 years. Many people have tried to guess his identity. But the artist has remained anonymous. Banksy likes to work overnight so no one can see him. He stencils murals around the world, creating prints that people instantly recognize.

Banksy uses his work to comment on culture. He stenciled his 2014 Spy Booth, above, on a house in Britain. The print features men wearing coats and dark sunglasses. They appear to use recording devices to listen to whoever uses the phone booth. Viewers, like the young girl in the photo, become a part of the work when they enter the phone booth. Banksy invites viewers to interact with his work and to think about privacy in today’s world.