Photographic Screen Printing with Oak Gall Ink
Online Demonstrations With Greta Facchinato
19th & 26th March 4-6pm (UK time)
Explore the art of creating black screen-printing ink from oak galls, one of the oldest natural inks used for calligraphy, dating back to ancient times. Oak gall ink was historically favored by scribes and artists, prized for its deep, rich colour and permanence. In this hands-on course, you’ll learn how to make and use this traditional ink for screenprinting, applying it to photographic images.
This course is ideal for screen printers, photographers, and artists interested in sustainable, nature-based techniques.
What You’ll Learn:
• How to make screen-printing ink from oak galls;
• Preparing and modifying photographic images for screenprinting;
• Tips for achieving the right ink consistency and selecting materials;
• Guided screenprinting demo and troubleshooting.
Who Is This Course For?
Screen printers, photographers, and artists exploring natural materials.
Session Content:
Session One - Making Black Screenprinting Ink
• Introduction to oak galls: foraging, sourcing, and examples of printed work.
• Step-by-step ink-making process, including modifiers and viscosity tips.
• Sustainability, safety, and ethical practices.
• Live Q&A to address questions.
Session Two - Preparing the Screen for Photographic Printing
• Photoshop tips for image preparation and adjustments.
• Choosing the right screen, paper, and ink consistency.
• Guided screenprinting demo and troubleshooting.
• Live Q&A for support and feedback.
Format & Resources
• Duration: Two 2 hour live sessions. These will be recorded and available for one month after the course.
• Resources: PDF handout and materials list provided.
• Note: The sessions are designed for you to learn and take notes during the demonstrations, rather than follow along step-by-step. This approach allows you to ab-sorb the techniques and ask questions during the live sessions, then experiment on your own at a later time. You can also revisit the recorded sessions for further guidance.
Greta Facchniato
Greta Desirèe Facchinato (IT/LU) is a research-based multidisciplinary artist and designer. She holds a Masters in Artistic Research from KABK Den Haag (NL) and a Batchelors in Visual and Performance Arts with a specialization in Sculpture from Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia (IT). Through the crossflow of different mediums and the investigation of daily life encounters, gestures, and materials her practice invites us to experience matter from an embodied awareness. She runs a studio focused on research and sustainable education through natural materials, illustration and creative workshops. In 2021 with her project Colour is Alive she researched organic ink making for screen printing. Since then she is been working with the knowledge of color and the interconnection with our environment through the practice of making sustainable ink for printing techniques.
gretafacchinato.com
For how long will you have access to the resources?
You will be able to access the recordings for one months from the end of the course.
(Until the 26th April 2025)
You will be able to download the PDF resource to keep forever.
Policy on Sharing Course Content
Thank you for your interest in our programmes. To ensure a high-quality experience and to respect the intellectual property rights of our teachers, we ask all participants to adhere to the following guidelines:
Do Not Share Recording Links or PDFs: The content provided during our sessions, including recording links and PDFs, is the intellectual property of our instructors. These materials are meant exclusively for the use of registered participants. Please refrain from sharing these resources with anyone outside of the program. Unauthorized distribution can undermine the value of the content and the hard work of our educators.
Do Not Share Zoom Links: Each session has a limited number of spaces to maintain an interactive and engaging environment. Sharing Zoom links with individuals who are not registered disrupts this balance and can lead to overcrowding, detracting from the experience of all participants. Please ensure that Zoom links are kept confidential and are not shared with others.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in these matters. By following these guidelines, you help us protect the intellectual property of our teachers and ensure that all participants have a fair and enjoyable learning experience.