Screen painting is painting on window screens. It is a folk art form originating in immigrant working-class neighborhoods in Baltimore, Maryland, in the early 20th century.

The wire screen section of a screen door is typically painted with bucolic landscapes, still lifes, or other subjects of interest. The artist paints the scene directly onto the screen, making sure to remove excess paint from the screen’s holes so the screen retains its ability to ventilate. The scene painted on the screen prevents the eye from focusing past the image, giving residents privacy without limiting their ability to look outside  

While screen painting is now mostly regarded as urban kitsch, authentic examples can still be seen in Baltimore neighborhoods such as Hampden or Highlandtown.

Screen painting was invented by the Czech immigrant William Oktavec to restrict the sunlight entering his produce store.  The technique was later taken up in other neighborhoods by other artists.

It is estimated that as many as 100,000 painted screens in Baltimore once adorned the rowhomes. As of 2014 there were only 1,000 screen paintings left. Wikipedia

Now we’ve made this type of art available to you for display in your home, cabin or business. 

Our screens are painted with a variety of techniques using only the highest quality paints. Painted screens can be used in windows or the screening can be framed allowing the painted screens to be displayed as decorative art.

Contact us today to learn how you can get your own Screen Painting by Screencraft.