The San Antonio College Student Art Guild prints their original artwork through the process of silk screen printing Nov. 17 in the gallery of the visual arts center. Blayne Myles, arts and architecture sophomore; Fernando Lopez, vice president of the art guild; and Justin Mendez, president of the art guild, demonstrate the process. Photos by Zachary-Taylor Wright
Students and faculty display what happens in printmaking classes.
By Miranda A. Holden
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
A visual arts adjunct, two members of the Art Guild and fine arts student demonstrated silk-screen printing to students Thursday in the gallery of the visual arts center.
Adjunct Ty Wilcox, Art Guild president, Justin Mendez and vice president, Fernando Lopez, art sophomore Blayne Myles and fine arts sophomore Esaias Machado assembled a line showing the process of creating an eight-layered screen print using eight to 10 colors.
About 75 students attended the demonstration.
Steps included applying water-based paint on top of the silk-screen where the paint is squeezed into the mesh by stroking a wooden blade transferring paint onto the surface of the printed image.
The prints then lay on a drying rack until all 43 prints were complete. Then the next layering process began.
The drawn image used was a likeness of a late close friend of Wilcox, Richard Duardo.
Duardo had his own printmaking company and taught a printmaking demonstration at this college three years ago.
Wilcox wanted to keep the tradition alive in honor of his friend and to continue teaching students.
The image of Duardo was a four-person collaboration among the students.
Myles drew a sketch of Duardo from a portrait.
Mendez sketched writing on the top left that outlines a step-by-step process of printmaking.
Wilcox added a personal touch to the print by adding text along the right side reading “Do I have to paint you a picture?” to symbolize his style of humor.
Mendez also drew the background capturing Duardo’s hometown — a skyline of Los Angeles including hidden images that symbolized Duardo’s style of work.
Mendez said he was determined to finish all 43 prints.
The team took 9:30 a.m until 2:30 p.m to complete the eight-layered process.
Students who attended the demonstration entered their name in a drawing for a chance to receive one of the finished prints.
Ten names were to be chosen by Wilcox at the end of the day.
Remaining prints will be distributed to department chairs, printmaking archives and the Art Guild to sell at exhibits.
Wilcox wanted to promote the printmaking, ARTS 2333, Printmaking 1, and ARTS 2334, Printmaking 2, by giving potential students hands-on experience in what is to be expected in class.
Color paint was available for students to hand paint on the images to create their own piece they could keep in the end.
Marketing management freshman Ashley Perdue attended the demonstration and is taking ARTS 1301, Art Appreciation, this semester.
After taking art appreciation where he learned the process of printmaking, Perdue said he would be interested in taking a printmaking class.
“I thought the class would be about appreciating art,” Perdue said Thursday.
“The process definitely got my attention and interest, which is why I’m here,” he said.
For more information on the course, contact Wilcox at twilcox@alamo.edu
