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Beautiful Blues: Learn Cyanotype Printmaking!

$507.00

Discover the timeless art of Cyanotype using the magic of sun and light to create beautiful blue prints.

Learn Cyanotype printing using chemistry, light and water to create unique photographic prints with artist Marina Mavritsky. Cyanotype is one of the oldest photographic processes and this hands-on course is perfect for all creatives, including beginners.

We will explore this historic process, starting with fundamental chemistry to create beautiful artworks on watercolour paper and natural fabrics using botanicals, found objects and our own photographs and drawings. As the week progresses, we will build on our skills and add colour to our cyanotypes, using traditional toning methods along with contemporary mixed media techniques culminating in the creation of cyanotype books.

Beginning with the traditional process, you will learn how to mix chemistry, coat surfaces and harness UV light to develop the iconic, deep Prussian blue images of cyanotypes. We will use a diverse range of textures including botanicals, found objects, drawings and your own photographs converted into negatives to create cyanotypes. Printing surfaces will include beautiful water colour papers and textile fabrics. We will also create a cyanotype scarf, so you have wearable art as well!

Once the foundations are mastered, we will continue to explore intermediate techniques that push the boundaries of the medium: experimental wet cyanotypes, multiple exposures, bleaching and toning methods to introduce colours and warmth to your prints, along with selected hand colouring and embroidery. Additional surfaces such as cyanotype printing on raw wood and bisque-fired clay will also be explored. Finally, you will learn how to create book cloth using your printed and coloured fabric and then create several bound books using your own artworks along with preprepared book blocks to make a hard case sketch book, pamphlet fold books and a concertina book.

A busy week filled with immersive fun, learning and making!

Discover the timeless art of Cyanotype using the magic of sun and light to create beautiful blue prints.

Learn Cyanotype printing using chemistry, light and water to create unique photographic prints with artist Marina Mavritsky. Cyanotype is one of the oldest photographic processes and this hands-on course is perfect for all creatives, including beginners.

We will explore this historic process, starting with fundamental chemistry to create beautiful artworks on watercolour paper and natural fabrics using botanicals, found objects and our own photographs and drawings. As the week progresses, we will build on our skills and add colour to our cyanotypes, using traditional toning methods along with contemporary mixed media techniques culminating in the creation of cyanotype books.

Beginning with the traditional process, you will learn how to mix chemistry, coat surfaces and harness UV light to develop the iconic, deep Prussian blue images of cyanotypes. We will use a diverse range of textures including botanicals, found objects, drawings and your own photographs converted into negatives to create cyanotypes. Printing surfaces will include beautiful water colour papers and textile fabrics. We will also create a cyanotype scarf, so you have wearable art as well!

Once the foundations are mastered, we will continue to explore intermediate techniques that push the boundaries of the medium: experimental wet cyanotypes, multiple exposures, bleaching and toning methods to introduce colours and warmth to your prints, along with selected hand colouring and embroidery. Additional surfaces such as cyanotype printing on raw wood and bisque-fired clay will also be explored. Finally, you will learn how to create book cloth using your printed and coloured fabric and then create several bound books using your own artworks along with preprepared book blocks to make a hard case sketch book, pamphlet fold books and a concertina book.

A busy week filled with immersive fun, learning and making!

ESSENTIAL INFO

If you purchase a ticket for this course, all the information on this page will be emailed to you with your ticket.

👥 Suitable for: Adults only 18+

📍 Venue: Bellingen High School (mobility aid accessible)

📈 Level: Suitable for all skill levels

⏰ Schedule: Mon–Fri, 9am – 4pm (5 Full-Days)

🏷️ Extra costs: This course has a cost of $50 for materials

Required skills & experience

  • No skills required, just an interest in Visual Arts and a willingness to learn new skills and experiment in new techniques.

Supplies that you need to bring to class

All materials will be supplied by the tutor, however if you would like photos to be turned into negatives, please email (no more than) SIX Photos.

Optional to bring (but not necessary):

  • Fabric (natural fibres such as cotton, linen or silk)

  • Additional watercolour paper

  • Botanicals (pressed flowers)

Supplies that will be provided by your tutor:

Cost of $50 includes the use of:

  • Black and coloured markers, pencils, inks for drawing

  • Book binding glues, scissors, knives, cutting matts, book press, waxed paper

  • Glass, Boards Clips and UV lights

  • Watercolour paper in various sizes

  • Cyanotype solutions

  • Precoated cyanotype fabric

  • Cotton fabrics

  • Wood panels

  • Bisque-fired clay

  • Silk scarf

  • Brushes, sponges for cyanotype application

  • Pre-made book block for making hardcase books

  • Book board, rice paper and book cloth fabrics, bone folders, needles & waxed thread for books

  • Rice paper

  • Needles & embroidery thread

  • Natural colourants including turmeric, vinegar, salts, teas, coffee

  • Bleaching agents (washing soda)

  • Botanicals (pressed flowers)

  • Plastic sheets for drawing negatives

NOTE: Supply costs will be collected by the tutor before Camp Creative.

Learning outcomes

  • Mix chemistry accurately

  • Coat substrates evenly on various papers, fabrics and surfaces

  • Develop prints

  • Tone images using natural materials

  • Bleach images

  • Select and compose layouts

  • Create digital negatives

  • Integrate mixed media by combining cyanotypes with watercolour, embroidery and ink

  • Health and Safety of handling chemicals including safely, maintaining workspaces and disposing of chemicals.

COURSE PLAN

DAY ONE

  • Introduction to Cyanotype including historical overview

  • Chemistry and mixing cyanotype solution

  • Coating watercolour papers with solution and using botanicals and objects to create cyanotype photograms

  • Drawings using markers to create negatives

DAY TWO

  • Cyanotype on fabric- coating, drying, exposure and processing

  • Cyanotype silk scarf- coating, drying, exposure and processing

  • Using cyanotype as a drawing media on larger size watercolour papers

  • Sewing of a small pamphlet book

DAY THREE

  • Natural toning techniques

  • Bleaching cyanotypes

  • Wet cyanotype techniques

  • Cyanotype on wood

DAY FOUR

  • Cyanotype on bisque fired clay tile

  • Creation of concertina book

  • Multiple exposures cyanotypes

  • Creation of book cloth (using cyanotype fabric)

  • Mixed media (acrylic, ink and watercolour) to add colour

DAY FIVE

  • Creation of hardcase book

  • Curation of cyanotypes and addition of colour using mixed media materials

COURSE TUTOR

Marina Mavritsky

Marina is a Sydney based visual artist who explores historical artmaking techniques in a contemporary context. Her current work crosses between the alternative photography method of cyanotypes with tempera painting as she explores the natural environment, resilience and renewal.

She teaches regularly in her studio in Leichhardt, along with specialist workshops in cyanotype printing with the Department of Education, Hurstville Museum and Gallery.

“Marina is very informative and does not shy away from sharing her knowledge in the art, participants are encouraged to make as many art as possible”
— Student Review
“The event facilitator was wonderful. I enjoyed learning a new form of art and thoroughly enjoyed having free expression of the technique.”
— Student Review

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