ECO PRINTING- SILK AND PAPER
Instructor: Margie Fullerton
Date: September 17
Time: 9 am – 4 pm
Fee: $75
Participants: 8
Location: Highland Center Pavilion
Materials Cost: $40 - Covers materials to be used in class: mordants (iron, copper, titanium oxalate), paper (140# watercolor paper; 110# notecard paper), 3 silk scarves (2 each 8”x54”; 1 each 8”x72”). All equipment to be used in the workshop (turkey roasters, dowels, twine, plastic wrap, scissors, latex gloves, etc.) will be provided by the instructor.
Students should bring leaves from their area with emphasis on high tannin leaves such as oak, sassafras, redbud, maples, rose, sumac and interesting weeds. No thick plants. A handout with names of good local plants will be sent to students in advance of the workshop. Bring enough to trade & share!!!
Workshop Summary: Learn how to ecoprint (also known as botanical printing) on silk scarves and assorted papers using the tannins from the leaves to imprint beautiful designs onto the fibers. Ecoprinting involves collecting leaves, plants, and flowers to imprint their images directly upon fabrics and papers using a water bath process. Students will learn techniques to create beautiful, natural designs with colors drawn directly from Nature on paper and silk. With the knowledge gained in this workshop, the enthusiast can easily translate these techniques to a variety of paper and protein-based fabrics. This workshop will also give students a deeper appreciation and awareness of the natural resources that are all around them. In the end, students will know how to use Nature’s resources to create beautiful silk fabrics, frame able images, or covers for DIY book journals. At the end of the workshop students will take home naturally printed craft papers and can WEAR home their naturally-crafted silk scarves.
Silk Scarves: Silk Habotai 8mm Natural White ( https://www.dharmatrading.com/fabric/silk/silk-habotai-8mm.html ) 2 each 8 x 54”; 1 each 8 x 72”
Watercolor Paper: 140# Cold Press 9x12” – approx. 6 sheets each student
Notecard Paper & Envelopes: 110# - approximately 4 notecards each student
About Margie Fullerton
Margie is a local artist who recently learned the art of ecoprinting from Highland Arts Academy’s 2021 workshop season. An arts & crafts hobbyist (she also learned lino-cut printing and explored pottery making in the 2021 workshop season), she has been a “resident visitor” to Highland County since 2011 and (she and her honeybees!) retired to the area 4 years ago. From her studio in High Valley, she explores ecoprinting, hand-printing, fiber arts, watercolors, and furniture rehab/up-cycling.
