Thermofax 101 by Lyric Kinard - DVD Review

Welcome to the Thermofax 101 Blog Hop and Give Away.  Here is a link to buy the DVD

Learn how easy it is to create your own screen printed cloth! Thermofax Screen Printing is easy, fun, and well within your reach. Let fun-loving artist, Lyric Kinard, guide you through the basics of what, exactly, a thermofax screen is, and how it’s made. Then she helps you begin your own creative journey as she shows you how to find and design your own imagery and send it off to have a custom screen made for you. Learn all about the basic supplies you will need and then get printing! Lyric will explain the properties of textile paints, how to prepare, care for, and use your screens, and finally how to design and create your own beautiful cloth.

65 minutes of thorough instruction

Chapters:

Getting Started: what is a thermofax screen

Finding Images: find and design your own

How to Print: printing techniques and tools

Designing: creating cloth with layered imagery

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 and 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

Okay, this is totally new for me, because I have never used a Thermofax machine, or let alone seen one.  What I liked about Lyric's DVD is that she shows you what this machine looks like and the history of it.  And I've never used a screen to create marks on fabric.  I am a newbie!  I loved learning something new, that I was curious about.  This is the image that I sent Lyric, because a few years ago when I posted this photo on Facebook/Instagram, my friend Cate Prato commented that it would make a good Thermofax screen.   So here we are!

Lyric's DVD begins with some great music, which I enjoyed!  Here is the photo copy image from which the Thermofax screen is made from.  Pretty cool.  Lyric is really good about talking in front of the camera, a natural.  She tells and shows you what it is all about step by step. Then there are words on the screen with hints to help you out.  I took notes, because I am like a fish out of water.

My screen came with a frame.  You use duct tape to secure it tightly in place on both sides.  Silly me, I had only black and white checkered duct tape.  Okay, this has to cure overnight before you can use it.  I had to go back and read my notes.  I am just not that patient, but I followed her directions because I wanted to do it right the first time.  And can you imagine taking that duct tape off if there was some sort of crease in the screen after you put it all on?  Lyric shows some easy ways to put the tape on. 

Here is my canvas drop cloth on a table with a little felt underneath to give it cush, also covered in the DVD.

The fabric that I am using if part of the 1895 Hoffman Bali Hand Dyed Collection.  I love the vibrant colors.  I am also going to use Jacquard Textile paint.  Lyric clearly explains all kinds of paint that you can use.  There are certainly others that I would like to try, but this is what I have on hand.

You use a plastic scrapper to move the paint over the screen.  Lyric talks about all of the scrappers that are available and her favorites.  I used a tool that I have used in making books, that smooths down a fold.  It was the perfect width for the screen.  This is my first run through.  I think it is pretty cool.

Here is another one, and I clearly got too much paint at the top in globs. Listening to Lyric talk about this technique and all of the amazing ways that you can use it, got the wheels in my brain working with the 'what if?' scenario.  This is a good sign.  I want to learn more, and she came through with all kinds of ideas, design tips, using more than one color, unity and personally I think that is the greatest feature of the DVD.  Learning about color and design along with a great new technique.

This is printed directly on the canvas, and it might be my favorite.

Throwing caution to the wind here with doing many prints with more paint.  Gloppy in some parts, but I could use it for something later.

This print was done directly on my concrete floor in my studio.  I was here. I washed my screen, so I can use it again.  Thanks Lyric for making such an amazing DVD, that I could even do!  It was fabulous and I highly recommend this to anyone who loves paint, or needs to get to know paint - it is very fun! The possibilities are endless to what you can do with this technique in your own work.  Click on the link at the start of this blog post to buy one for yourself.  Congratulations Jennifer Scatlebury Vienneau - you are the winner!