Screen Printing: Art, Ad, or Alchemy

SmartWork Media/GK Magazine

Screen Printing: Art, Ad, or Alchemy? covers the wide variety of uses of the world’s oldest printing technology in its modern form. The podcast introduces listeners to the people and the magic behind the squeegee. From leading-edge medical devices fighting COVID, to fine art and rock posters, the clothes you wear and the teams you cheer for, the electronic devices and new energy sources that will guide our future – it’s a screen printed world out there, and host Andy MacDougall will take you into it.

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20 episodes
Updated April 1

Episodes20

Newest first

April 1 · 34 min
Episode 31: Technology, Technique, and Travel
This episode of Art, Ad, or Alchemy takes us from state of the art in Orlando, to seat-of-your-pants printmaking on the side of a volcano in a 3 room schoolhouse. From Tito’s Cantina in Veracruz, to the biggest rock festival in Mexico. Screenprinting...
February 14 · 19 min
Episode 30: Part 2 Print or Print 2 Part
In episode 30, Andy takes stock of the changes that have happened since he started writing for Screenprinting Magazine 32 years ago, and the demise of the once mighty printing industry worldwide. The changes at the Magazine reflect this, but with the...
Jun 4, 2025 · 10 min
Episode 27: Motorcycling Through Europe
You get to a certain age, you’re supposed to retire. But some people — idiots like me — stay connected to a process that gave me a living, a good life for my family, and great experiences and friends. You can’t ask for much more in life. But one thing...
Apr 2, 2025 · 9 min
Episode 26: The Printer’s Trifecta
In Episode 26, Andy MacDougall puts the screen-printing process into perspective using the old game, Rock, Paper, Scissors. The game elements represent INK, STENCIL, and EXPOSURE. They all must work together to win. INK type determines stencil type....
Jan 22, 2025 · 47 min
Episode 25: ‘Me and Johnny Magee’
In Episode 25, Andy MacDougall interviews John Magee of Avient Inks about his long-time tenure as an industry expert and educator about the ongoing conversation on where the tried-and-true screen-printing industry is headed. Oh, and Andy wrote a song...
Nov 8, 2024 · 57 min
Episode 24: ‘Getting By with a Little Help from My Friends…’
This episode of Art, Ad, or Alchemy will be of interest to screen printers who take on a job and then actually don’t know how to print it. Now what kind of idiot would do that? This one. Stick around and we’ll run a little primer on how it’s done with...
Aug 26, 2024 · 37 min
Episode 23: An Interview With Industrial Printer Ken Johnson
In the 2-D world of screen printing, somewhere between puff tees and posters, exists the world of the 3-D printer. The human version, not the machine. That’s someone who knows how to print images or logos directly — and permanently— on 3-dimensional...
Jul 3, 2024 · 55 min
Episode 22: Fakirs, Takers, & Makers - Jeral Tidwell and AI-Generated Art
Just so readers know, I got roped into this article to present some kind of counter argument to Marshall Atkinson’s devotions to Midjourney and the cult of AI, one of the newer crop of prompt-based art production tools. Read his article before or...
May 20, 2024 · 48 min
Episode 21: Printing Color in the Real World
It seems like the entire printed graphics world has turned to digital processing and imaging. The need — and skills — required for custom mixing and printing of spot colors faded into a blur of stochastic dots spit out by 4-, 6-, and 8-color print...
Mar 1, 2024 · 33 min
Episode 20: F&I Printing is Everywhere! 
In Episode 20, Andy MacDougall interviews Dan Gilsdorf, of Sefar USA about the hidden and lucrative world of functional and industrial screen printing. The world of functional and industrial (F&I) printing is hiding around us in plain sight. Since...
Jan 15, 2024 · 36 min
Episode 19 - Tuff Love and Posters
In episode #19, Andy MacDougall interviews legendary flatstock poster printer Tuffy Tuffington, VP of the American Poster Institute, the non-profit that runs the Flatstock Exhibitions of rock poster art. For 20-plus years, the exhibition has taken...
Nov 17, 2023 · 14 min
Episode 18: Squeegee United
In episode 18, Andy MacDougall reflects on the history and the future of an industry more diverse than many realize. From control panels and electronic interfaces to batteries and biomedical devices – even contributions to Allied victory in WWII –...
Sep 6, 2023 · 28 min
Episode 17: Return From the Edge
In episode 17, Andy MacDougall interviews Richie Goodtimes, a textile and poster production artist who suddenly went blind. Richie’s story is one of coming back from the edge. In the course of diving into his background, we also dive into a parallel...
Jul 6, 2023 · 30 min
Episode 16: Screen Printing
In Episode 16, Andy MacDougall interviews Nick Rhodes. Nick’s story illuminates why it could be a mistake for anyone (particularly North American politicians, educational institutions, and trade associations) to essentially write off screen printing...
May 1, 2023 · 40 min
Episode 15: Screen Printing Alchemy
In Episode 15, Andy MacDougall interviews Julia Murphy, a founding member of Pedal Press (https://pedalpress.org/). She believes screen printing can offer kids who maybe don’t fit into high school academics (or even high school) an opportunity not...
Feb 28, 2023 · 28 min
Episode 14: Screen Printing Alchemy
In Episode 14, Andy MacDougall interviews industry vet Rick Roth. Rick and his wife, Pam, run the ongoing “Shop Talk” interview program at Impressions Expos under the banner of the Ink Kitchen (http://inkkitchen.com/). Rick chats with players in the...
Jan 4, 2023 · 38 min
Episode 13: Talented Young Creatives
In Episode 13, Andy MacDougall interviews Edward Cook, recently retired head of ECI Technologies, past chair of SGIA/PU, SCREEN PRINTING Editorial Advisory Board member, and a screen printer who sees one of the main challenges to the ongoing health of...
Oct 25, 2022 · 39 min
Episode 12: Screen Precision
Episode 12 continues the exploration of the fascinating world of functional print, where screen printing still rules. Our two guests represent the creators of the specialized materials being printed, and the companies who turn these materials into the...
Sep 1, 2022 · 33 min
Episode 11: Print Different
In this podcast, Printing United returns, some hosers in Canadia get lit and loud, I take exception to a misleading image in a rival publication, and we launch a new series of interviews on industrial and functional print with industry veteran Ron...
Jun 29, 2022 · 26 min
Episode 10: Watt's Up With That
Squeegeerama 2022’s guest host, Dan Stiles, details his unique and impressive poster making methods. Only he could intertwine conductive materials and lights into his screen printed posters. Listen to learn more about the Portland, Oregon-based...