Wendy Currie's Cyanotype workshop
CYANOTYPE (an early 19th Century photographic printing process)
13 November 2010 9:30 – 4:30pm
Pre-requisites: Basic experience with a film or digital camera
Course Objective: To give students a complete working knowledge of the cyanotype photographic printing process, so they can create images of aesthetic worth independently.
Course Outcomes
1. Skills/knowledge – By the end of the course students will have a sound working knowledge of cyanotype printing and will have produced several images, including one toned.
• An understanding of why the chemistry works, and how to handle it safely.
• Types of papers and/or fabrics used
• Importance of using special brushes
• Coating techniques
• Drying
• Exposing the paper to different UV light sources; learning how and why colours change and how to calculate correct exposure.
• Printing frames – how to make a simple one
• Types of negatives used and different ways of making them
• Using objects to make photograms
• Toning finished prints
2. Personal – An appreciation of the artistic potential of this alternative photographic process to create modern works. Learn what sorts of images work best and gain confidence in the ability to recreate images independently.
3. Practical – By the end of the course the students should have a minimum of 4 images with one toned. Notes of all tests and final prints which include types of paper used, exposure times, and method of toning.
Course Content
Explanation of what is a cyanotype printing process
• Brief history from its founder , Sir John Herschel, to contemporary artists.
• Show examples of my work and explain how they were done.
• Bring a selection of books on alternative printing processes
• Explain which types of images work best and why.
• Importance of understanding chemistry – how it works, safe handling of raw materials, why stock solutions must be separated.
• Types of brushes, sponge paddles or glass rods
• Acid free papers, rice papers and different fabrics
• Demonstrate mixing equal quantities of the stock solutions and what to look for and why.
• Showing different coating techniques onto papers and fabrics
• Importance of drying the paper/fabric correctly
• Placing negatives and paper in contact printing frames or using found objects.
• Expose a print in the sun & explain why colours change and how to calculate when the image is completely exposed.
• Washing out exposed prints
• Further manipulation of image using different toning methods, hand colouring with pencils, paints or another printing process.
Materials
• Students will need to bring their own negatives (a list of different ways of making negatives will be sent);
• bring some found objects to make photograms
• notepad and pen
• old clothes or apron
I will supply all other materials such as paper, class notes, chemistry, gloves, contact printing frames, brushes, sponge paddles etc. toning chemistry, trays, UV light boxes etc.
Cost $240 (including membership)
