Cyanotype 101 Workshop - Classic and Toned!

This Workshop is an introduction to cyanotype on paper and fabric and is a pre-requisite for the Advanced Wet Cyanotype Workshop and the Experimental Cyanotype Workshop

Program

Saturday:

Mix cyanotype chemicals and apply to paper and fabric in a dim room.
Allow papers and fabric to dry.
We will use 3 different papers of differing weights – Rainbow Cartridge Premium Drawing Paper 110gsm, Canson Mixed Media Paper 160gsm, Canson Water Colour Paper 300gsm. The cyanotype process works well with all these papers. Canson is high quality made in France.
We will use cotton PFD (prepared for dyeing) fabric.
Once the substrates are dry, we will create compositions on both fabric and paper using botanicals, leaves, lace, cut glass/crystal bowls…anything else you can think of.
After correct exposure we will wash to remove all unused chemicals, and then use a vinegar wash, and examine the use of hydrogen peroxide.
After lunch, we will create layered cyanotypes, using two different methods. This allows us to create layered images with interesting, detailed backgrounds.

Sunday:

We will examine our prints and determine which ones we wish to keep as is, and which ones we want to tone.
We will bleach cyanotypes to different degrees using soda ash (sodium carbonate).
Then wash them in a vinegar bath to stop the bleaching process and return the cyanotype to an acid PH
There will be several options for toning:
- Black tea – Tetley
- Black tea – Irish Breakfast
- Green tea
- Brewed coffee
- Instant coffee
After toning, we will wash the prints and hang them to dry.
We will discuss how to finish your cyanotypes:
- Adding a backing – I use Whisper Weft
- Hand and machine stitched free embroidery
- Adding water colour details
- Adding gold leaf and foil
- Using Posca or metallic pens for details
- Sealing cyanotypes with cold wax (Renaissance Wax, Dorlands Wax, Gamblin Wax)
- Sealing cyanotypes with Encaustic wax (mixture of bees wax and damar resin), fusing.
- Mounting and framing.