Serigraphy is a simple process that is easy to learn. It is kid-friendly and ideal for school, camp or holiday art projects. Just about anyone can do it. Whether you are a student or a beginning artist, screen printing is not difficult to master and provides a basic introduction to printmaking.
Compared with other printmaking methods -- such as lithography and etching -- the materials required for serigraphy do not cost much money. If silk is too expensive for your screen, you can use nylon or other synthetic fabric. Squeegees, inks and screen filler are relatively cheap. Serigraphy supplies come in complete kits that are available for purchase in craft and hobby stores. You can even build your own screen printing press (also known as a frame) with wood, glue and staples. Serigraphy classes often instruct students on building their own frames. Instructions are also available in do-it-yourself books and online tutorials.
Serigraphy is better suited for transferring vivid colors to a print than other printmaking media. This is partly because serigraphy inks are viscous and opaque. It is also because serigraphs are printed using large areas of color. While you can certainly make screen prints in black and white, the focus is on graphic design and color intensity -- unlike other printmaking methods that are more concerned with line drawing. Andy Warhol is an example of an artist who demonstrated the use of color in serigraphs, with his series of celebrity portraits.
The screen printing process is not intended solely for fine art applications. It is widely used on textiles, particularly the ubiquitous T-shirt. It is commercially viable and adaptable to create a variety of products, including clothing, stationery items and posters. The use of serigraphy in advertising led to its appearance in mid-century Pop art. Today, serigraphy continues to be used in the graphic design and textile manufacturing industries.