Helen Breil Silkscreen Review

Helen Breil's polymer clay silkscreens are admittedly some of my favorite. In this review I'll be highlighting why, in my opinion, they are among the best on the market.

I use the Pills and Coffee silkscreen in this Swellegant and alcohol ink veneer, so be sure to check that out.

how to use Helen Breil's Silkscreens with Polymer clay

Lay your silkscreen down on top of your sheet of clay. Gently burnish it onto the polymer clay so that it sticks.
Lay a stripe of your chosen paint or other mixed media across one side of your sheet.
Use your squeegy or a credit card and scrape from one end of the sheet to the other.
Scrape again to remove excess paint.
Remove the silkscreen and rinse immediately in lukewarm water and leave to dry.
Trim up the edges of your silkscreened sheet and then allow to dry for about 20 minutes.

What i love about these Silkscreens

Unlike some silkscreens, Helen Breil's silkscreens can be used either way up. This means that you don't have to worry about making sure you are using them shiny side up or down.
This also gives you the option of producing a mirror image of the pattern by turning the silkscreen over. I have found this to be a most useful design element.
There are a wide variety of patterns available and Helen Breil has posted photos of pieces that she has made using them. It's always useful to see the results that a silkscreen gives to help you to visualize how you might be able to incorporate it into your designs.
Many of the silkscreen patterns are available in matching texture stamps which allows you to add another design element.
Many of the silkscreens have more than one pattern on them, so they are great value.
The silkscreens have a lovely fine mesh which allows for a much crisper image.
They all have a good border around them. This is important because it protects the image from peeling at the edges and thereby extends the life of your silkscreen.

Tips for getting the most from your silkscreens

Be careful not to push the screen too hard onto the clay. If you do, the clay can come up through the mesh and it's almost impossible to remove from the screen. It's better to burnish the screen onto the clay rather than rolling over it with your acrylic rod.
Make sure to clean your silkscreen immediately after use. Do not allow any mixed media to dry on it. Clean it by submerging it in a bowl of lukewarm water and gently rubbing away the mixed media. Don't scrub. Always be very gentle.
Make sure that you allow it to dry completely before packing it away. Correct storage will increase the life of your silkscreen.

Helen Breil's silkscreens are some of my favorite on the market currently. They are easy to use, have great design options and are of very high, professional quality. I highly recommend them. On the video I show some examples of veneers I've made using some of the silkscreens, including the Swellegant alcohol ink veneer, and the Mayan Medallion we made from it, so be sure to check that out.