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Eco Printing / Visiting Artist Crystal McCallie
Eco printing and dyeing is the process by which the colors and shapes of leaves or other natural plant material such as bark, seeds or flowers are transferred onto fabric or paper.
The genesis story of eco printing seems to have been lost throughout history, with its origins tied to the ancient Far East, ancient Greece, and the Middle Ages. The Native Americans of the western continents were the first to use the natural dyeing process. Their culture reflected a wealth of information about plants that were used for medicine, ceremony, and artistic expression. In the latter half of the sixteenth century, people of the southwest Native American Navajo tribe began using the natural plants grown in the area to dye sheep’s wool that was then woven into textiles. The contemporary reemerging eco printing technique has been credited to Australian textile artist India Flint who experimented by bundling whole leaves and other plant matter into textiles then boiling them with a ferric acid mordant. Here are some instructions from my favorite eco artist Nicola Brown.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ukwh9F4enI&t=51s or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYJI9LpjmJY
Objective: As a class, artists will observe examples and a demonstration of the process of eco printing, paper and textile collage, and bookbinding. Each artist will plan a project that combines one or more of these techniques with screen printing to produce one resolved work or a series of prints.
Important: We will be using a rust and vinegar solution to eco print, which is non-toxic, but if you have skin sensitivity, you will want to wear gloves.
Also, when eco printing on paper, it must be a high quality western cotton paper (like Arnhem). The paper must be tough so it can be subjected to acid and boiled.
The genesis story of eco printing seems to have been lost throughout history, with its origins tied to the ancient Far East, ancient Greece, and the Middle Ages. The Native Americans of the western continents were the first to use the natural dyeing process. Their culture reflected a wealth of information about plants that were used for medicine, ceremony, and artistic expression. In the latter half of the sixteenth century, people of the southwest Native American Navajo tribe began using the natural plants grown in the area to dye sheep’s wool that was then woven into textiles. The contemporary reemerging eco printing technique has been credited to Australian textile artist India Flint who experimented by bundling whole leaves and other plant matter into textiles then boiling them with a ferric acid mordant. Here are some instructions from my favorite eco artist Nicola Brown.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ukwh9F4enI&t=51s or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYJI9LpjmJY
Objective: As a class, artists will observe examples and a demonstration of the process of eco printing, paper and textile collage, and bookbinding. Each artist will plan a project that combines one or more of these techniques with screen printing to produce one resolved work or a series of prints.
Important: We will be using a rust and vinegar solution to eco print, which is non-toxic, but if you have skin sensitivity, you will want to wear gloves.
Also, when eco printing on paper, it must be a high quality western cotton paper (like Arnhem). The paper must be tough so it can be subjected to acid and boiled.
Theme: Open
Parameters: Choose one of the four listed projects below.
Materials: In addition to screen printing materials, artists will need to acquire either one sheet of western cotton paper (sold through the print shop) or various light colored natural fabrics (cotton, linen, or silk) purchased from Wal-Mart or JoAnn’s or sourced from your old garments or thrift stores.
Depending on the project you choose you will need PVA glue or wheat paste, needle, thread, scissors, interesting fabric and paper scraps, other desired art supplies for collage. I will have some sewing notions you may use during class work sessions.
Wheat paste recipe: Using a fork, whisk 2 tablespoons of flour into 1⁄2 cup of scalding hot water until silky smooth. Let cool completely before use and apply with a paint brush. Unused paste will keep for a few days if stored in the fridge. Once the paste is dried on fabric or paper it will last for many years.
Schedule:
March 6th - Intro and demo eco print project, buy paper, begin sourcing other materials.
March 8th - Work day: Prior to class have paper/fabric torn/cut down for desired project ready to wrap and boil eco print bundles. Then unwrap after cooking for 40-60 minutes. Demo ironing paper and fabric.
April 5th - Project Due, critique.
Eco dyeing equipment and materials will be available to use in the print shop M-F 9 am - 4 pm. Eco dyeing equipment and materials will not be available for use after March 15th.
Contact Info: If you need assistance during any part of the process, please reach out to me. Text: 806-316-7501 or email: [email protected].
Parameters: Choose one of the four listed projects below.
- A series of at least five resolved varying prints using at least three layers of screen printing combined with the eco printing technique and printed on western cotton paper (Arnhem), measuring 8” x 10” each.
- A series of at least five resolved mixed media paper collage using at least one layer of screen printing and eco printing (cotton paper) technique with the foundation surface measuring at least 11” x 14.” This collage can include any bits and pieces you find interesting. Consider torn up old prints or drawings, screen prints done on different paper like kozo, garment patterns, old books or ledgers, and fabric. Consider drawing and painting on the surface and incorporating text. The collage should be assembled with wheat paste (recipe below) or PVA glue.
- A series of at least five resolved textile collage using at least one layer of screen printing and eco printing technique. Artists must use at least five separate pieces of fabric in their “quilt.” Finished work can be any size and machine or hand stitched. All of the pieces do not need to be printed. Consider other types and colors of sourced fabric. I like to use old clothes or linens from my closet or the thrift store.
- One artist book - (Minimum of five signatures or 6 pages (if accordian); Using eco printing technique (cotton paper or fabric), artists may assemble a paper, fabric, or a mixed media book with an open theme and parameters. Demo of making book signatures, stitching, and binding will be done in class or check out this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98SdMoq4kcc&t=188s
Materials: In addition to screen printing materials, artists will need to acquire either one sheet of western cotton paper (sold through the print shop) or various light colored natural fabrics (cotton, linen, or silk) purchased from Wal-Mart or JoAnn’s or sourced from your old garments or thrift stores.
Depending on the project you choose you will need PVA glue or wheat paste, needle, thread, scissors, interesting fabric and paper scraps, other desired art supplies for collage. I will have some sewing notions you may use during class work sessions.
Wheat paste recipe: Using a fork, whisk 2 tablespoons of flour into 1⁄2 cup of scalding hot water until silky smooth. Let cool completely before use and apply with a paint brush. Unused paste will keep for a few days if stored in the fridge. Once the paste is dried on fabric or paper it will last for many years.
Schedule:
March 6th - Intro and demo eco print project, buy paper, begin sourcing other materials.
March 8th - Work day: Prior to class have paper/fabric torn/cut down for desired project ready to wrap and boil eco print bundles. Then unwrap after cooking for 40-60 minutes. Demo ironing paper and fabric.
April 5th - Project Due, critique.
Eco dyeing equipment and materials will be available to use in the print shop M-F 9 am - 4 pm. Eco dyeing equipment and materials will not be available for use after March 15th.
Contact Info: If you need assistance during any part of the process, please reach out to me. Text: 806-316-7501 or email: [email protected].
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