Contemporary Use of Screen Printing for Creating Lithographic Forms

The article explores the use of screen printing as a tool for creating printing forms on stone in artistic lithography. In the context of limited access to classical lithographic materials and the need to expand the technical arsenal of the contemporary printmaker, screen printing is considered a flexible and effective method for transferring images onto a lithographic form.
Special attention is given to the gum arabic resist technique, in which the screen is used to precisely apply a protective layer to the stone before etching. The study also investigates the use of screen printing as a method of applying the main image, which can later be refined using both traditional materials (lithographic pencil, ink) and nontraditional media — such as spray paint. A third direction of the research focuses on using stencils to accurately transfer image outlines — both in monochrome and in the form of color blocks for multicolor stone printing, ensuring precise registration of color forms.
As a result of a series of practical experiments, all the mentioned methods were tested, and technological recommendations for integrating screen printing into the lithographic process were developed. The proposed classification of stencil applications — as a resist tool, a primary image application method, and a contour transfer instrument — allows for systematizing the experience and making it accessible to artists who seek to integrate modern technical tools into traditional printmaking techniques.
This material holds practical value for printmaking artists, educators, and students of art institutions, as well as for anyone working with authorial lithography under current technical constraints and striving to expand the boundaries of classical technique through experimentation.