Lou Stovall the screenprinter

This was my first day working for the screenprinter Lou Stovall in his studio in DC and I have already learned so much. Lou has been printing since he was fifteen and he is now into his 70s so he is very experienced and has mastered the art of screenprinting. over the years Lou has experimented with many techniques and processes and styles while collaborating with other artists.

While going through many different focuses and styles the majority of his work is inspired by nature (flowers, trees, and birds) and by music (his emotions and reactions as he listens to a song). His flower prints are very interesting because they look like a painting from afar but when close up it can be appreciated for its many layers and intricate stenciling and brushwork. Lou doesn't use photo emulsion but instead only uses stenciling. In addition he slowly blocks out areas of the stencil with a brush to create a softer line, and creating a gradation of color.

In his current work he is experimenting with monoprints, which I didn't know you could do in screenprinting. He places a blank paper on the table then pulls the screen down. He then splatters various paints in the screen until it is just how he wants it. He then places another paper on top of the screen and rubs it with a rag. He now has two mirrored imaged prints that he will add to when he finds inspired. When he finishes a print he goes back to his previous works to compare and make sure he's doing something different.