The Lost Art of Window Screen Painting

The art of window screen painting stems from Baltimore, where row houses were plenty. Starting from the early 1900's, folk art screen painters decked out window screens with everyday household paints. Painters painted lighthouses, cottage homes, and sea gulls. This lost art was unusual. Today, folks are too busy to paint their own homes let alone the window screens.

Painting window screens is more of a fancy craft today. When window screens are painted--you can see out, just can't see in. The subject matter is in the eye of the holder or the artist. Some can be painted to look like stained glass, or a view of the ocean. Maybe you would like a mountain top painting or a pile of cute cats. The subjects are endless.

One could collect window screens from old windows to paint. Hang them as wall art, give as gifts. Most of all just have some fun painting them. You can use up all that household paint you have laying around. You can do theme ones, holiday art, or even country style.

Cover work area with newspapers/well ventilated room.
Raise the screen off the newspapers with a couple of odd cans or it will stick to the newspaper.

Clean the screen well and let it dry. After it dries cover the frame with paint tape if you wish it to remain paint free. Cover the window screen with a layer of neutral paint for the background. Let it dry. Draw your subject with chalk then paint it in. Spray with a clear sealer to prolong and protect.

Another way to add texture is to cover the window screen in cement or stucco or grout--then plan out your design and paint it in. You can use the texture in just small areas if you want to. This gives it contrast like for a woody tree area. You can use craft paints or even enamel paints. If you can spray the base coat outside do so with canned spray paint.

You may want to start with a small window screen for a sample run. Try a subject that has less detail as your first attempt. Work your way up to larger screens and details of the fine art of window screen painting will emerge. Bringing back the phenomenon of window screen painting of Baltimore. An art form that should be revisited and restored.