What is a Serigraph?
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The serigraphic process offers techniques that are unachievable in other printing methods.� It is capable
of printing heavy layers of ink and producing a surface of texture.� Large areas of flat color are best printed with screen printing.
.� It is best known for its rich and vibrant color. These and other factors have been responsible for screen printing
developing the reputation as a painter's media.� Serigraphy has grown over the past twenty years to become the most popular
method of printing in the art world with both artists and publishers.

The first step in this time consuming procedure, which frequently takes up to three months to complete, begins with the
�"Chromist" (one who works with color). He analyzes the painting or moquette provided by the artist. Hours are spent
studiously dissecting the painting or maquette into individual colors, relying solely� upon experience to decide
which colors, in what order, by which process, and by what drawing technique.� Like having an entire chess game mapped
�out in ones own mind before moving one piece, the Chromist begins the first of dozens of drawings, each representing
a different color that will be layered , one on top of the other over the next several weeks.� The chromist works with the
�master printer to mix exacting colors that are printed one at a time until the artist gives his final nod of
approval.� The artist frequently inspects the work in progress and makes suggestions and corrections.� When the
edition is complete and passed its final inspection from the curation department, the artist signs and numbers each piece.

In 1970, a student in printmaking recognized the unique advantages to both lithography and serigraphy.
Michael Raburn realized the advantages of combining these two art printing techniques. Thus the name,
"Serilith" came to be. Lithography offered brilliant color and a textural range not found in other mediums.
As a student you were instructed to take classes in all the processes but specialize in one area.� This did not
satisfy his burning curiosity to understand the depths of this discipline.� As he learned the subtlities of the processes
he started to want to things with images that were beyond the capabilities of each medium.� Experimenting began with
combining processes. It was much more difficult than he had expected.�� Traditional papers for each medium were
different, the inks were incompatible, the registration systems, dissimilar and the ones he turned to for help
said it could not be done.� It took ten years before the process finally was perfected.

This is not a process where a four color lithograph is printed and the serigraph painted over it.
All separations are hand drawn for both processes. There are no dot patterns.� This is truly a mixed
media original print, not an enhanced reproduction.

There are others who have tried to produce something similar. Each has a finished result
of its own. but only a "SERILITH" is a serilith.