Printing tees for profit, or not – there are a multitude of reasons to get into screen printing. There’s a reason you get into it, and a reason you stay. Personally, I stay in the industry because of my love of the craft as a trade, and the connection it brings in the screen printing community. What is it for you? The abundance of profitable possibilities? Is it purely a creative way to express yourself?
I believe screen printing is more than technique and putting images on shirts. I see it as a way to find fulfillment and success through aligning with your passions, values, skills, and personal growth. Whether those goals are to create a brand that stands out, running an automated print business for profit, or simply learning something new - I want to take a deeper look into the love of screen printing…
ARTISTIC FREEDOM
Some of my favorite days are R&D days. Sometimes we get so focused on dollars and deadlines that we forget to play. How lucky are we as screen printers that we’ve built our lives around art and color? I love to attend local craft fairs and look online at all the wild ways printers are utilizing the unique versatility available in screen printing. You print t-shirts every day, do you also give yourself freedom to print on paper, wood, glass, metals, or plastics? The artistic possibilities in screen printing are endless.RELATED: HOW TO PROTECT YOUR ARTWORK FROM COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
Last year, I was fortunate enough to attend Bumbershoot in Seattle where some of my favorite bands were playing. Little did I know, FLATSTOCK 88 was happening onsite!! Presented by the American Poster Institute, it was an incredible exhibit featuring concert poster artists from all over. Seeing this display was a beautiful reminder that the world is our oyster. I encourage you to go play and continuously find new ways to use your creativity in screen printing, whether it’s on a t-shirt, skateboard, posters, stickers, or literally anything.
SKILLS TO PAY THE BILLS
It takes great dedication to create a good print. Mastering techniques from screen preparation to the final cure takes devotion to learning. There are technical aspects of screen printing that you must be dedicated to learning in order to enjoy what you do and stay motivated. Accepting and appreciating that there is always something more to learn can inspire us to keep trying new techniques for high-quality results. One of my favorite things in screen printing is figuring out how to create the results I’m looking for. From tonal prints, specialty inks, split-fountains, and process printing, watching an idea come to life is the best feeling.RELATED: BEST PRACTICES WHEN PRINTING MULTI-COLOR POSTERS WITH WATER-BASED INK
A SENSE OF PURPOSE
A beautiful Japanese concept, called Ikigai, translates to "a reason for being" or "a reason to wake up in the morning." I understand it as a philosophy that emphasizes finding joy, fulfillment, and balance in the intersections of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Aligning your screen printing skills with your values and passions, can lead to greater satisfaction and success. By focusing on what makes your work unique and valuable, you can carve out a distinctive place in the market and build a brand that resonates deeply with your target audience. It can even help in making strategic decisions about the direction of your business, choosing projects that are meaningful and profitable, and fostering a sense of purpose in your daily operations.RELATED: ESSENTIAL SCREEN PRINTERS' GUIDE FOR IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL MARKETS AND CUSTOMERS
One of my favorite shops, S’envoler Studios, seemingly embodies the perfect Ikigai balance in their shop and their prints. Watching them print in their peaceful studio is an invitation to join their community and wrap yourself up in one of their manually screen printed hoodies that are pure art. Be inspired to beautify your own shop, get a sense of achievement, and print what you find fulfilling. We invite you to explore the potential of your screen printing passion as a lucrative business.
Whatever you love about screen printing, it's important to remember why you got started in the industry and where you're going. Give yourself time to play, do research, testing, and create something new to continue growing your skills as a screen printer.
