*The winner was chosen via random.org! Counting started from the top. Congrats, Tabitha! You won a screen print! Send me your address and I’ll pop it in the mail for you today.
Making art and taking a class are pretty much two of my all-time favorite things. So when a friend asked me last minute if I’d join her for “First Time Screen Printing” at the Lill Street Arts Center in Chicago, I considered it for all of 10 seconds before I jumped on board.
I showed up to the first class without the slighted idea of how one produces a screen print. I mean, I figured that the process would involve paint and layering…but, heck…that was just a lucky guess. As it turns out, the process is far more precise, messy, creative, mechanical, spontaneous, and crazy-awesome than I had anticipated. We even got to use some chemistry.
We would spend the first four classes working on just one three-layer print, so we were asked to spend our first week brainstorming our design. Well, Valentine’s Day must have been on my mind, because my inner lovely-dovey cheese-ball took the conceptualizing into her own hands.
Um, yes, those are two love birds looking out over the Swiss Alps (which I consider to be one of the most romantic places on earth.) And the quote at the top is from one of my favorite movies. No, it’s not important which one. It’s just important to know that it was a very sophisticated, independent movie with subtitles. Yeah. And it definitely wasn’t animated by Pixar.
Anyhow.
I snapped a few photos over the last 4 weeks…so scroll on to get an inside peek of a print-making class! (And don’t miss the special giveaway at the very end.)
{Cleaning off the screen between layers involves this massive power washer…and a very dirty bathtub.}
{Next down is layer 2, the detail on the mountains.}
{Printing involved burning images into a silk screen, and then forcing ink through the holes using a funny-looking rubber block.}
{Sure, I look happy. But my arms are killing me. Nobody told me making art would require muscles!}
{My first print – DONE!}
I’m pretty delighted with the results of my first time screen printing. And now I have a one-of-a-kind painted 11″x14″ poster to hang on my wall.
After all that hard work, I have about 5 finished pieces. And I want to give one away to a lucky blog friend! You can enter in two ways. First, leave a comment below telling me in one sentence what adventure you’re embarking on next. Second, post the following to twitter or facebook, and then leave a second comment with your name or twitter handle saying you did so! The last day to enter is Tuesday, Feb. 7th at 11:00 pm, and the winner will be selected by random.org at midnight! I can’t wait to hear all about your upcoming adventures!
Is your adventure out there? Win a free adventure-inspired screen print from artist @adrianawillsie ! http://tinyurl.com/6um3wjs
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We are hoping to go on a family adventure to San Francisco this year!
I just wrote a tweet about this post! @thepetitcadeau
That looks like SO MUCH FUN!! Rock it, girl!
I’m embarking on the adventure of editing and finishing my novel.
Tweeted, too! @kristinoffiler
Adriana that’s fantastic! My next adventure will be dusting off my sewing machine and forging into the world of making my own clothes instead of just making bags galore.
I love screen printing & I love your first print! Nice work!
Isn’t it crazy what an upper body workout it is? Totally justifies ice-cream on the couch for days in my opinion!
Oh! And welcome to handwritten! Excited to have you!
Those are gorgeous! And excellent choice of quote (and film). I just tweeted about it @Heathervdh
Oh, and my next grand adventure is working in the outdoor education field. I’m still working out details, but can’t wait! There’s a NOLS course and probably another degree in there somewhere, but the very next step is a winter camping trip with a bunch of 13 year olds next week
Are you going to be making more screenprints like this? If so and I can put in a special order, let me know–I’d love the same print, but with two girls holding hands. It’d be perfect for my living room!
Heather this is so exciting! I was checking out some NOLS courses last year and they look amazingly fun!
Thanks! I’m pretty stoked about it and am currently checking out options for the outdoor educator-targeted courses. Have you taken one?
Tweeted
You’re speakin’ my language girl! I want that print!
In April, I will be leaving Toronto to live (yes – LIVE!) in my van for 8 months as I travel around the US hitting all the best climbing spots in North America. Can’t get more adventurous than that
xo
That is awesome–what an adventure! When you get out to Vancouver/Squamish (and I say when because how can you skip Squamish?!?), give me a shout. I’ve never climbed outside before, but this is the year!
And tweeted, obvz.
I’m on an adventure to find my career calling! It has been full of ups and downs, but I hope I keep having fun and trying new things.
I tweeted and sang your praises! I love this screen print. @MindOverBooty
hi darling friend! my next adventure, besides watching “up” as soon as humanly possible because it’s been at least a year, is deciding whether or not to take a year-long job offer in another country, one to which i have never traveled. i have until the summer to decide. squeeee!!
oops! i tweeted again! @loveismaroon.
Adriana, this is GORGEOUS! My new adventure is that I’m committing to getting 100 rejection letters this year ~ it’s time to start putting myself out there!
And I tweeted! @tiffanycmoore
Thanks!
Hmmmmm. I want to take a road trip with a car full of my Quaker Lady friends to South Carolina (to check out grains…) Wild times!
My next great adventure is going to be getting a dairy goat!
My next big adventure is right now…starting my own Etsy shop while working full time with an active kiddo, and starting a mentoring program [me being the mentee, of course!]. Love the print!
Just tweeted – over at @paperkeeperetsy – thanks for the fun!
Hi Adriana! Congrats on your first screen print! I’m embarking on securing my next visa for the UK, after this I can take the test for leave to remain and live here as long as I want!
My next adventure is getting married! We haven’t set a date or picked a honeymoon destination yet, but it will definitely be somewhere warm, no offense to the Alps!
Facebooked the giveaway! Thanks! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tudor-Designs/150879598344381?sk=wall
Adriana – I LOVE the print (and the message)!! Well done, lady
My next adventure is a trip to the south of France with Danielle in June. Hooray traveling!