Pages

Monday, May 11, 2015

“Thermofax 101” review and giveaway


Lyric Kinard’s new DVD workshop is here! “Thermofax 101: Screen Printing Made Easy” is a great way to learn about how to start working with thermofax screens. Thermofax are an easy way to screen print your own imagery onto fabric.

The 65-minute-long workshop is divided into chapters. In the first chapter, Lyric discusses what a thermofax screen is, and how it is made. She explains the old way of making silkscreens, and then the way to make them using a thermofax machine. I don’t have a machine, but it was very interesting to understand how it worked, and to see it in action. If you don’t have a thermofax machine, you can send images to Lyric and have her make them into screens for you. The guidelines and pricing are here. She also has some screens of her designs for purchase. 

I had only worked with thermofax screens once before, and I learned so much from this workshop. Then I put what I had learned into action, using a thermofax of one of my fish drawings that Lyric made for me. First, I used ProChemical & Dye’s ProFab Transparent Textile Paint and screened onto Robert Kaufman Pimatex PFD (top), and onto white cotton canvas fabric (bottom):


Even though the printing was not as clear as on the Pimatex, I think I liked it better, with all its imperfections and texture, on the canvas:


I still need to practice a bit to get the right amount of paint going through the screen, so that I don’t lose too much detail. But I wasn’t aiming for perfection, but more of an arty look. I love how the fish look printed on a canvas apron I’d “dyed” with paint, then stenciled before printing:


The second chapter focuses on finding imagery, from using online resources for copyright-free art such as Dover Publications and the Library of Congress, to developing your own personal imagery. Lyric’s expertise in understanding and explaining basic principles of art shows clearly here. 

The third chapter covers printing techniques and materials, including the ideal printing surface (with just a bit of padding for a good print), supplies such as paint and scrapers, and advice about cleaning your screens so they will have a long life. She also covers techniques beyond printing with paint, such as using a bleach-based detergent for discharging dye from fabric, and printing with adhesives, so that you can foil. I tested out the foiling process (basically printing through the screen with an adhesive, allowing the fabric and glue to dry, and ironing on special foils), and loved the effect:




In the fourth chapter, Lyric offers great tips for how to use your thermofax screen images to design your own cloth. This was my favorite part of the DVD, and I think it will be helpful for anyone who wants to use thermofax screens in an artful way. Again, Lyric’s ability to explain and demonstrate basic design principles shines through here. You’ll feel confident about your ability to use thermofax screens to create dynamic fabric after watching.

Here’s a little video preview of the workshop:



Lyric is a gifted teacher (she was the 2011 International Association of Professional Quilters Teacher of the Year!), and she’s teaching with me this fall at my Once in a Blue Moon Fiber Art Retreat, October 1-3, 2015 in Black Mountain, NC. We only have room for four more students, so if you are interested, please send in your registration form soon. We are going to have so much fun!



If you want to get started using thermofax screens right away, you can purchase a copy of the DVD for $19.95 on Lyric’s website.
 
For more chances to win a copy, check out all of the links below, and leave comments on each blog. Lyric is giving away a DVD for each of the stops on this blog hop!


April 24 Cheryl Rezendez  http://www.cherylrezendes.com
April 25  Leslie Tucker Jenison  http://leslietuckerjenison.blogspot.com  
April 28  Sue Bleiweiss  http://www.suebleiweiss.com/blog/
April 30  Judy Gula  http://www.artisticartifacts.com/about_us/contactus.htm
May 1  Susan Price & Elizabeth Gibson  http://pgfiber2art.blogspot.com/
May 2  Judy Coates Perez  http://www.judycoatesperez.com
May 4  Linda Stokes  www.lindastokes-textileartist.com
May 6  Jane Davila  http://janedavila.blogspot.com
May 6 Melanie Testa http://melanietesta.com/blog/
May 7  Liz Kettle  http://www.textileevolution.com/index.php/our-journey 
May 8  Carol Sloan  http://carolbsloan.blogspot.com
May 9  Kathy York  http://aquamoonartquilts.blogspot.com
May 11  Susan Brubaker Knapp  http://wwwbluemoonriver.blogspot.com
May 12  Desiree Habicht  http://myclothesline.blogspot.com
May 13  Jamie Fingal  http://JamieFingalDesigns.blogspot.com/
May 14  Deborah Boschert  http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com
May 15  Sarah Ann Smith  sarahannsmith.com/weblog

GIVEAWAY!
Leave a comment on this post by noon on May 16 for a chance to win a copy of Lyric’s workshop on DVD. Tell me why you want this DVD. I will randomly select a winner and list it after this post on May 16. International entries are also accepted for this giveaway. Please leave an email address if you do not have a blogger profile that lists yours. I'll need a way to get in touch with you to get your address if you win. Please note that your comment may not show up right away, as I am moderating all comments before they post (I had a bunch of Japanese porn spammers leaving comments ... eeeew).
WE HAVE A WINNER! Vicki has won the DVD. Thanks, everyone!

38 comments:

  1. Believe me, you're not talking to yourself! Gosh, I'd like a chance at this creative DVD to make some teeny tiny prints. Fabulous fish!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Would love to know more about using the thermofax

    ReplyDelete
  3. I would love to learn a new technique. Thanks for the chance to learn from Lyric.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Surface design is a very new endeavor for me and I know this DVD would be a wonderful resource. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is intriguing...I am interested in adding something like this to my repertoire...

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am definitely in the mood to learn something new! Would love to win!
    jmtdmt53@outlook.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I would love to learn the technique you used for the foil fish. I have tried to apply design with foil in the past with limited excess.

    ReplyDelete
  8. OMG! This is so beautiful! I've never tried screen printing of any kind....

    ReplyDelete
  9. Simple answer: I want to learn. I love learning something new.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I've done some thermofax screening and would love to learn more! The discharged fabric looks great.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I haven't yet done any screen printing but I've collected some fabric paint and can't wait to get started. I'd like to play with zentangle prints and nature images. Thanks for the chance to win.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have Lyric's Bead Like You Mean It DVD and she's the reason a lot of my quilts have beading on them. My art quilt group is making books as our annual group project and each page will be a different technique. Thermofax would be such a great addition! Keeping my fingers crossed!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Not sure if the first comment went through as I don't see it. Anyway trying again. Love the Thermofax technique. Would love to try it. Your fish came out great!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I took a printing workshop recently and love it. This DVD would expand on the workshop and inspire me. Love those shiny fish!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love trying new techniques! Always wanted to know how to screen print with thermo fax. I love. To win this to kick start a new skill set. P.S. Love you on Quilting Arts on PBS.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I would love to learn thermofax printing. Please enter me on your list.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I've seen many beautiful art quilts made using a Thermofax, but I've never used one and would love to learn how.

    QuiltShopGal
    www.quiltshopgal.com

    ps - I hope it is ok, as I just added your giveaway to a page with a linky where I share insights on giveaways & contests (others are welcome to add too). http://quiltshopgal.com/giveaways-and-contests/

    ReplyDelete
  18. I use the thermofax for screen printing enamel designs, and etching designs for brass plate to print silver. I would love to do it for fabric. Black mountain is such a creative spot of heaven, I go to bead retreats there.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'd love to learn how to use these screens and the different mediums you can use with them to incorporate them into my art quilting, mjmm773@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Nice printings ! I have a lot to learn about screen printing, Sure it's inspiring, of course i'd love to win the DVD !

    ReplyDelete
  21. oooooo love the idea of foil with the screens! Gotta try that out after I win the DVD!!! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  22. I am so looking forward to seeing both you and Lyric at our show this summer in Mooresville ....you both inspire me everyday and I have been so lucky to have such great teachers and mentors here in North Carolina..... Your videos continually help me in my creative moments and all your wonderful posts on Facebook .....Thanks for always sharing and helping others create everyday.....

    ReplyDelete
  23. I learn best by observing a demo...I hope to begin to have a bunch of thermofax screens made, so I can incorporate them into my work. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thanks for the chance to win! Have lots to learn....
    jlpfeffer at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I am new to thermafax screen printing...I would love to learn more!

    ReplyDelete
  26. would love to learn more about screen printing. Thanks for the give away

    ReplyDelete
  27. All these reviews have totally intrigued me. I'd welcome the DVD so I could learn the basics and then go on and explore and experiment. -- soparkaveataoldotcom

    ReplyDelete
  28. I would love to try screen printing. I love the fish you did I think it turned out really great. I could really use this instruction to learn another technique for my art quilts. I need all the help I can get!! I am new to art quilts and I really have a problem trying to collage. I think this would help as possibly part of a collage. Thank you. wwallrich@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I watch Quilting Arts and have seen the demo and would love to try to do it. The fabric comes out so awesome. Thank you for a chance to win.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I love how lyric makes complicated things make sense!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I would love to win because I've never worked with thermofax screens before. I've seen them used on Quilting Arts and they look like lots of fun. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I have several screens and I want to use them!! This DVD would be a great refresher on how to do that! Plus I am a huge Lyric fan!! She is an awesome teacher who helped me get started again on my art-venture!!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Love, love your foiled fish!! Foiling is probably where I would start if I owned this DVD.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hello, I have made some shirts by stencil and although they have come out fabulously, they were a lot of work and the thought of making more of the same just brought up hesitation because of all of the time it took to make that one. I thought that I needed to learn how to screen print to be able to make a shirt and then replicate it easily. This looks like a great technique. I would love to learn all about it. Thanks for the great giveaway!
    trishden948(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  35. I need a complete refresher course on using thermofax screens and this book looks like the right source. I love the look of layered images to create depth in a piece. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Learning screen printing has been a dream of mine for several years now. This DVD and Thermofax look like a great way to get started. Thanks for the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete

I love it when you leave comments… Otherwise I feel like I'm just talking to myself! If you have time to write, please let me know what you think.