What is the definition of a print?
Various forms of printing have for existed centuries but printmaking can be broadly understood to be when an image is created on one surface, and transferred to another, in a process which is repeatable, thereby enabling the production of multiple impressions.
Printmaking can be divided into three principal categories: relief (woodcut, linocut), intaglio (engraving, etching, aquatint, mezzotint) and planographic processes (screenprint, lithography). In traditional printmaking processes, a surface is usually coated with ink and pressure is applied to bring it into contact with the paper. The block, plate or screen can be used to make a number of almost identical images. Screenprinting, or silkscreen printing (the type favoured by Banksy) is a technique suited to creating large, flat areas of colour. Originally a commercial activity, silk screen printing rose to prominence within art during the 1960’s and 1970s with Andy Warhol often being credited as the driving force behind this wider acceptance of the method as a valid artistic medium.
A screen is created by attaching a fine silk or synthetic mesh to a wooden frame that keeps the fabric taught and flat. An image is then created on the screen. Like a stencil, parts of the image are made impermeable to ink by blocking the holes in the fabric (using glue, lacquer, film can be used), while others are permeable and allow the ink to pass through. The screen is then placed on top of the paper, and a thick ink is pulled across the screen with a rubber blade called a squeegee, so that ink passes through the screen wherever the mesh has not been blocked. Separate screens are usually used for different colours that overlay and create depth.
A hand-finished version of a screenprint is, as the name suggests, refers to a print that has been physically embellished by the artist, usually done by painting or drawing onto a print creating a “unique” work. Unique in this instance refers to the print belonging to a wider series yet due to the minute and natural differences in hand-finishing, each work is ever so slightly different. Hand-finishing varies from artist to artist, whilst one might paint entirely over their print, another might add a small touch of colour,
Examples of hand-finished Banksy prints
Befitting of an artist who rose to fame through their street art, Banksy has gifted the world a number of hand-finished screenprints that exist amongst the standard editions. We look at the most popular and cherished hand-embellished works that are available.
Donuts (Strawberry/Chocolate)
Unlike many other works by Banksy, Donuts has only appeared for commercial sale and not as a street piece. First appearing as a canvas in 2009 in pink, two print releases were created as a version in brown known as Donuts (Chocolate) and a pink sister print known as Donuts (Strawberry). Both editions appeared as part of a series of 299 signed prints in each colourway - the number being a reference to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts’ financial troubles in 2007, when it closed 299 stores. The special editions of this work are both from signed edition of 25 and are hand-coloured unlike the main edition which is entirely screenprinted.
Based on a large-scale mural that originally featured two policemen, the screenprint was released in 2002 with only one of the policemen appearing. The print is an entirely black and white design with very little detailing. Comprising of 250 unsigned and 30 signed versions, the main editions are also accompanied by 20 hand-finished works. The hand-finished versions can feature a variety of different embellishments that were sprayed on to the sheet ranging from a red or grey anarchist logos, green flowers and a blue Banksy tag - other versions also include the words filth.
Grannies
The pop pink Grannies print by Banksy was first shown in painting format at Banksy’s renowned 2006 exhibition Barely Legal in L.A. A year later, Pictures of Walls released a signed edition of 150 an unsigned addition of 600 as well as a small hand-finished signed print edition of just 11. Unlike Donuts, the hand-finished versions are vastly different from the standard editions and feature an apple red background with the grannies knitting hand-coloured pink and green sweaters.
Dumbo
Dumbo is one of Banksy’s most rare and sought-after prints that is seldom seen at auction or on the open-market. Dumbo was created as part of a small edition of 25 prints - 10 signed and 15 unsigned - that were released to a select group of collectors. Never released publicly, the works are all hand-finished with watercolours. The print was released in 2014 and showcases the artist’s subversive dark humour. In Dumbo, we see a group of unknown (presumably) Jihadists encircling the limp body of Walt Disney’s Dumbo. Unlike the other artworks that appear in this article, Dumbo has only ever been released as a hand-finished work.
Choose Your Weapon
Choose Your Weapon first appeared on a wall in Bermondsey, London in 2010 before the street stencil piece was subsequently boarded over and framed in Perspex to preserve the work. Shortly after, Banksy’s publishers, Pictures on Walls produced a limited run of prints of the mural which, infamously, turned to carnage as collectors and fans clamoured for the pieces resulting in Banksy producing a special version, titled Choose Your Weapon (Queue Jumping Grey) the artwork is a slightly larger edition size of 58. The hand-finished version of the print features a white background and the typical stencil style associated with the artist. However, the dog in this version has two large red eyes painted on adding to the sense of aggression and intimidation.
Radar Rat (Sonic Rat)
Radar Rat, also known as Sonic Rat, is one of the most prized works by Banksy due to its small edition size of 75 and because each print is signed and hand-finished by the artist himself in either red or orange. Radar Rat is shown standing on its hind legs, wearing headphones and holding a tape recorder in one hand and a sonic radar in the other. Behind him is a hand-painted red spiral. Radar Rat has appeared close to Andipa on the King’s Road as well as on the cover of Dirty Funker’s Future album in 2008.
For over 20 years, Andipa have led the Banksy market and have worked with collectors across the world to aquire the very best works. Explore our selection of original Banksy art for sale, discover our Banksy signed prints for sale or contact Andipa to sell your Banksy print.